Drug Therapy

Question 1

What’s the aim of drug therapy?

Answer 1

Aims to manipulate a patient’s bodily processes, with the goal of reducing the symptoms of their mental health disorder.
Used to treat mental illnesses like schizophrenia, depression and anxiety.
Treat with drugs to change chemical imbalances in the brain.

Question 2

Give examples of Mental illnesses treated with drug therapy.

Answer 2

Schizophrenia
Depression
Anxiety

Question 3

What is Schizophrenia?

Answer 3

Caused by excess dopamine within the brain, leading to symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions.

Question 4

What are antipsychotic drugs?

Answer 4

To treat schizophrenia E.g hallucinations and delusions

Question 5

What are the two types of antipsychotic drugs?

Answer 5

Conventional (Typical)
Atypical

Question 6

Give an example of a Conventional drug.

Answer 6

Chlorpromazine

Question 7

How does the Conventional drug work?

Answer 7

1. Schizophrenia- believed to be caused by a lack of dopamine.
2. The medication binds to dopamine receptors in the brain and blocks the dopamine receptors but not stimulating them.
3. This reduces the flow of dopamine in the brain.

Question 8

What are side-effects of the Conventional drug?

Answer 8

1. Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms E.g involuntary movements of face muscles i.e Tongue protrusion
2. Common side effects: Changes in blood pressure, rapid beating of the heart (tachycardia)

Question 9

Give an example of an Atypical drug.

Answer 9

Risperidone

Question 10

How does the Risperidone drug work?

Answer 10

1. Work in similar way, however, only temporarily blocking dopamine receptor sites. They will then dissociate to allow for normal dopamine flow.
2. Because it’s more temporary, side effects are less prevalent
3. They also block serotonin receptor sites

Question 11

What are side-effects of the Resperidone drug?

Answer 11

1. Trouble staying awake
2. Dry mouth
3. Changes in your menstrual cycle
4. Dizziness

Question 12

What is depression?

Answer 12

Caused by a lack of serotonin, leaving the patient having low mood

Question 13

What are Antidepressant drugs?

Answer 13

Used to treat depression

Question 14

What are the types of Antidepressant drugs?

Answer 14

SSRI’s

Question 15

Give an example of SSRI’s drug.

Answer 15

Prozal

Question 16

How does the SSRI’s drug work?

Answer 16

1. Work by binding to the reuptake transporters on the presynaptic neuron.
2. This stops the re-uptake of serotonin, therefore less is absorbed
3. By inhibiting the re-uptake of serotonin, increases the availability of serotonin in the synapse

Question 17

What are side-effects of the SSRI’s drugs?

Answer 17

1. Drowsiness
2. Nausea
3. Fatigue
4. Worsening of symptoms
5. Weight gain

Question 18

What is anxiety?

Answer 18

Caused by an imbalance of the emotional centres within the brain, leading to an overproduction of adrenaline and often a ‘fight or flight’ response.

Question 19

What are anti anxiety drugs?

Answer 19

Work to calm the body’s stress responses, treating symptoms of anxiety.

Question 20

What are the types of anti anxiety drugs?

Answer 20

Benzodiazepines (BZ’s)
Beta-blockers (BB’s)

Question 21

Give an example of a BZ drug.

Answer 21

Valium

Question 22

How do BZ’s drugs work?

Answer 22

1. Slows the activity of the CNS
2. This is done by enhancing the activity of GABA (a neurotransmitter that relieves stress)

Question 23

Give an example of a BB drug.

Answer 23

Propranolol

Question 24

How do BB’s drugs work?

Answer 24

1. Bind to receptors on the cells on the areas of the body that become aroused e.g., the heart
2. BB’s will block the receptors on these cells, slowing their function.
3. Therefore, the heart will beat slower and blood pressure will fall, making the patient feel less anxious.

Question 25

What are side-effects of BB's drugs?

Answer 25

1. Common side-effects i.e Dizziness, sedation, drowsiness, loss of balance 2. Uncommon (At higher doses) i.e Confusion, disorientation, amnesia

Question 26

What are the steps in drug therapy process?

Answer 26

1. The individual seeks help from a medical professional, telling them how they feel and what their symptoms are. 2. The medical professional makes a decision about the type of mental illness the individual displays. 3. The medical professional will prescribe an appropriate drug to the individual. 4. Individual picks up prescription for the drugs and starts to take them. Taken with water or as an injection. 5. Individual takes drugs every day 4 to 6 weeks they return to their medical professional for a check-up. 6. Behaviour of individual will be monitored and will be decided if they're to continue with drug therapy alone or start a talking cure such as CBT with drug therapy, change to another type of drug or stop drug altogether.