what are the biological treatments for schizophrenia

Question 1

what are two main types of drug treatments

Answer 1

atypical antipsychotics

typical antipsychotics

Question 2

what is typical antipsychotics

Answer 2

-was the first treatment developed
-the basic mechanism is to reduce the effects of dopamine and reduce the symptoms
-works by reducing the stimulation of dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway. One of these drugs chlorpromazine, which eliminates hallucinations.
Kapur found that 60-75% of the transmission of D2 receptors must be blocked to work, in addition D2 must be blocked another areas as well. However it causes extra pyramidal side effects such as tardiv dyskanisia
-only treats positive symptom, and brings about negative symptoms as side effects

Question 3

what is atypical antipsychotics

Answer 3

• new form of treatment
• -they carry a lower risk of extrapyramidal side effects, and have beneficial effects on negative symptoms and cognitive impairment
• act on the dopamine system by blocking the D2 receptors. However they only temporarily act on the D2 receptors before rapidly dissociating to allow normal dopamine transmission.
• examples is clozapine

Question 4

what is the evaluation of drug treatments

Answer 4

• drug treatments are cheaper and more available than psychological and cognitive treatments, suchs CBT, therapy etc.
• also Drug treatments just suppress the symptoms, so is only good shorty term, the cause for the disorder is still their so often works best in combination with therapy sessions.
• has socially sustainable aspect, as it allows patients to go home and live a relatively normal life, with family. Thus increases quality of life.
• mat have ethical issues in application. As severely ill patients who are ‘sectioned’ may be treated unwillingly with drugs.
• real world application ….