Biological Approach - Therapy: Drug Therapy Flashcards
(30 cards)
1
Q
what are the 3 assumptions
A
- Evolutionary influences (i.e. natural selection + EEA)
- Localisation of brain function (i.e. the 4 lobes + localisation of language)
- Neurotransmitters (i.e. synaptic transmission)
2
Q
which assumption links to being the basis of drug therapy
A
3) Neurotransmitters
–> we can cure mental illness by changing chemical balances of neurotransmitters
3
Q
what are the steps to drug therapy
A
- individual seeks help from a medical
professional, tells how they feel + symptoms - medical professional makes a decision as to the
type of mental illness that the individual displays. - prescribes appropriate drug for the individual.
- The individual, or a responsible person who is caring
for them, will pick up a prescription for the drugs
and the individual will start to take them. - usually swallowed with water, but they can be given
by injection if needed. - after treatment returns to medical professional for checkup, behaviour is monitored and they decide if they are required to continue with drug therapy alone, change the type of drugs being used, continue alongside other treatments like CBT, or stop drug therapy all together
4
Q
what are the 2 types of antipsychotic drugs
A
- conventional antipsychotics
- atypical antipsychotics
5
Q
what do conventional antipsychotic drugs combat + how
A
- the first antipsychotics used to combat the
positive symptoms of schizophrenia (delusions hallucinations). - symptoms = caused by high dopamine levels, so the aim of antipsychotics is to reduce dopamine levels in brain
- work by binding to dopamine receptors in to permanently block their action.
- By reducing the stimulation of the dopamine system, antipsychotic drugs can eliminate the hallucinations and delusions experienced by patients with schizophrenia
- e.g. chlorpromazine
6
Q
How do atypical antipsychotic drugs work
A
- founded in 1990 = more modern type of drug
- combats both negative and positive symptoms
- temporarily occupy dopamine receptors then rapidly dissociates to allow normal dopamine transmission (leading to less side-effects)
7
Q
give an example of an antipsychotic drugclo
A
- Clozaril
- it reduces primary symptoms of schizophrenia
- side effect = tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movement of mouth/tongue)
8
Q
how do antidepressants work
A
- SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
- block the transporter mechanism that reabsorbs serotonin into the presynaptic cell after it has fired
- leads to more serotonin being left in the synapse, prolonging activity and making the transmission of the next impulse easier
- the increased communication between neurons will eventually decrease the symptoms of depression
9
Q
give an example of an antidepressant
A
- e.g. of an SSRI = Prozac
- it increases serotonin by prolonging its activity
10
Q
what are the 2 types of antianxiety drugs
A
- BZs (benzodiazepines)
- BBs (Beta-blockers)
11
Q
how do BZs work + examples of them
A
- slow down activity of the CNS
- they do this by enhancing the activity of GABA (a neurotransmitter) which is the body’s natural form of anxiety release
- e.g. Librium and Valium
12
Q
how do BBs work
A
- reduce the activity of adrenaline and noradrenaline
- achieved by binding to the receptors of the heart and other body parts stimulated by stress response
- leads to the heart beating slower and with less force
13
Q
how does the first assumption link to drug therapy
A
- medical models recommends a patient should be treated for their mental illness through direct manipulation of their physical bodily processes
–> which would be drug therapy
14
Q
how does the second assumption link to drug therapy
A
- drugs target specific regions of the brain which are involved in psychological disorders
- e.g. the limbic system
15
Q
How does the third assumption link to drug therapy
A
- Alter the action of neurotransmitters and treat mental disorder by increasing/decreasing the action of them
- this will influence emotions, thoughts and actions
16
Q
how do all the assumptions overall link to drug therapy
A
- the medical model suggests that: psychological disorders (such as depression/schizophrenia) have a physiological cause —> therefore mental illness = physical illness
- mental illness have a physical cause characterised by a cluster of symptoms (a ‘syndrome’) and therefore can be treated in a physical way
- this physical way is drug therapy
17
Q
what is some of the research + evidence that suggests drug therapy is effective
A
- Soomro et al. (2008)
- Kahn et al. (1986)
- comparisons with other treatments
18
Q
what is some of the research + evidence that suggests drug therapy is not effective
A
- side effects
- symptoms not cause
19
Q
Why is Soomro et al. Prove that drug therapy is effective
A
- Tested drug vs placebo
- reviewed 17 studies of the use of SSRIs with OCD (which has a component of depression)
- SSRIs = more effective in reducing symptoms of OCD up to 3 months after treatment, i.e. short term
20
Q
Why is Kahn et al. Prove that drug therapy is effective
A
- follows 25 patients over 8 weeks
- found BZs to be more effective than placebos
21
Q
What is the weakness to both Soomro and Kahn
A
- they are short-term data
- don’t have any long term data to compare with already existing techniques
22
Q
Why is ‘comparison with other treatments‘ proof that drug therapy is effective
A
- drug therapy = cheaper than other treatments (e.g. psychotherapy)
- because it can be prescribed by the NHS
- practitioner doesn’t have to invest as much time in the patient (only meeting every couple of months)
23
Q
Why are ‘side effects’ proof that drug therapy isn’t effective
A
- Soomro et al: side effects of SSRIs included = nausea, headaches, insomnia
- makes people prefer not to take the drug
E.G - tricyclic antidepressants: have more side effects (hallucinations and irregular heartbeat), they’re used if SSRIs aren’t effective
24
Q
Why is ‘symptoms not cause’ proof that drug therapy isn’t effective
A
- If a person suffers from depression as a result of childhod trauma, antidepressants = a short-term solution
- BUT in long-term = disorder isn’t dealt with
- So…’revolving door syndrome’
—> Patient is back and forth to their doctor as the disorder is never really cured
25
What are the 3 mains ethical issues with drug therapy
- Use of placebo
- Valid consent
- Medical professionals may withhold information
26
Describe the ethical issue of ‘use of placebo’
- no patient should be given a treatment known to be inferior
- new treatments can be tested against existing treatments known to be effective (control condition)
—> tests for concurrent validity
27
Describe the ethical issue of ‘Valid consent’
- lack of valid consent
- many patients find it difficult to recall all the side effects associated with a drug or may find it hard to digest the information
28
Describe the ethical issue of ‘Medical professionals may withhold information’
- Medical professionals may withhold some information, e.g. benefits of the drug are slim, or they may exaggerate the benefits of taking it
29
When writing an essay about why it is/isn’t effective, what paragraphs should u do
- :) Soomro et al. / Kahn et al
- :) comparison with other treatments
- :( side effects
- :( symptoms not cause
30
When writing an essay about ethics, what should u write about
- use of placebo
- Valid consent
- Medical professionals may withhold info
