Biological therapies (antipsychotic treatment)

What are antipsychotics?

• can be taken as tablets, a syrup or an injection

• May be required long term or short term

• Some can take them short term and stop without symptoms returning

• Some may have to take them for life or risk reoccurring symptoms

What are the two types of antipsychotic

• typical

• Atypical

What are Typical antipsychotics?

• since 1950s

• E.g. Chlorpromazine

• Work by acting as antagonists in the dopamine system - reduce the action of a neurotransmitter

• Tend to block all types of dopamine activity

• Side effects may be harmful

How do dopamine antagonists work?

• Block the D2 receptors in the synapses of the brain to absorb dopamine

• Reduces positive symptoms

What does Chlorpromazine do?

• effective sedative often used to calm patients

• Affects histamine receptors

What are Atypical antipsychotics?

• since 1970s

• Made to improve the effectiveness of drugs in suppressing symptoms

• Used to minimise extrapyramidal side effects

How do atypical antipsychotics work?

• acts on dopamine receptors reducing positive symptoms

• Acts as an antagonist for serotonin and an agonist for glutamate

• Helps improve mood and reduce negative symptoms

What does risperidone do?

• bind to dopamine receptors more strongly than clozapine

• More effective im much smaller doses

• Lead to fewer side effects

Evaluation of drug therapy

• effectiveness (supporting evidence for typical) - Thornley et al

• Effectiveness/approproateness (supportin evidence for atypical) - Meltzer

• Economic implications

• Appropriateness - side effects