Biological treatment for SZ: drug therapy

+typical antipsychotics are effective

Thornley et al: reviewed studies comparing the effects of chlorpromazine to control in which patients recovered a placebo

Data showed chlorpromazine was associated with better overall functioning & reduced symptom severity→relapse rates were lower

+atypical antipsychotics are more effective than typical antipsychotics

Schoolet et al: found 55% receiving typical antipsychotics suffered relapse

Compared to only 42% for atypical treatment

Side effect also fewer for atypical antipsychotics

-problems with evidence for the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs

Healy:suggested same successful trials had evidence published multiple times, exaggerating evidence for positive effects

Due to antipsychotics having powerful calming effects, easy to say they have positive effect on patients→assess short term rather than long term benefits

-both typical & atypical antipsychotic drugs are associated with serious side effects

Long term use of typical antipsychotics→tardire dyskinesia (involuntary facial movements)

Atypical antipsychotics→regular blood testing involved to reduce severity of side effects