Hormone + Drug Treatments

aim of hormone + drug treatments

To address hormone imbalances + change behaviour

Some aims

• reduction of aggression

• management of disruptive behaviour

The aims - details

Reduction of aggression = Hormone treatments such as anti androgens are used to lower testosterone levels.

Management of disruptive behaviour = drug treatments like antipsychotics + mood stabilisers target neurotransmitter pathways to regulate mood and control impulsivity

underlying approaches taken in treatments - names

• Biological underpinnings

• hormone approach

• neurotransmitter regulation

• neurochemical foundations

Biological underpinnings

• the biological perspective in psychology

What is that?

• suggests that behaviour has a phsychological basis, often links to hormonal imbalances / neurotransmitters dysregulation.

Hormonal approach

Hormones such as testosterone are associated with aggressive behaviour due to their role in stimulating amygdala + influencing risk taking behaviour .

• anti -androgen treatments lower testosterone levels

Neurotransmitter regulation

• durga such as risperidone - influence dopamine’s + serotonin pathways.

• This regulation helps to stabilise mood + reduce impulsivity

Neurochemical foundations

studies indicate that individuals with high levels of dopamine or imbalances in serotonin may exhibit increased impulsivity/ aggression.

Treatment processes

1. Assessment phase

begins with clinical evaluation

includes :

• psychological assessment

• behavioural observations

• medical history reviews

2. Medical selection - the 2 treatment options used

• hormone treatments

• drug treatments

hormone treatments

• These involve anti-androgens which work by preventing testosterone production

drug treatments

Antipsychotics and mood stabilisers are chosen based on how bad the symptoms are presence of co-morbid conditions.

3. Dosage and monitoring

• Treatments start with a low dose

• Monitoring includes regular blood tests to check hormone levels.

4. Supportive therapy

• Combining pharmacological treatments with CBT

CASE STUDYYY NAME

Le Banc et al. (2006), risperidone reducing aggression etc

Le Blanc et al. (2005)

Aim : To investigate the effectiveness of risperidone in reducing aggression in body’s diagnosed with disruptive behaviour disorders + low IQ.

Method : study included two placebo-controlled, randomised trials where participants were randomly assigned to receive either risperidone / a placebo over a set period.

• behavioural assessment were conducted : pre-treatments, during and post treatment to measure changes.

placebo- not real drug - has no effects .

Findings: Boys treatment with risperidone showed a significant reduction in aggressive outbursts, improved behavioural control , better social interaction compared to the placebo group.

• improvements very noticeable in reducing incidents of physical aggression.

implication -effects:

• The study provided strong evidence that risperidone is an effective pharmacological option for reducing aggression in youth with disruptive disorders. and then I will do

Effectivness of Treatment.

Strength

Classical Efficacy:

• evidence from studies like Le Blanc et al. (2005), demonstrates that drug treatments can effectively reduce aggressive behaviour.

Limitations

Side effects

• Common side effects of risperidone include = weight gain, fatigue potential metabolic changes → can cause further implications such as effects mental health effects

Dependency:

There is a risk of psychological or physiological dependency when drugs are used over a extended period.