Biological therapies - drug therapies

LO 8

What are antipsychotics?

* a form of medication to reduce the symptoms of Sz
* can be prescribed for short-term or long-term
* dependent on the severity of schizophrenia and the type of symptoms
* divided into typical and atypical drugs

What are typical antipsychotics?

* 1950’s
* chlorpromazine
* tablets, syrup, injection
* maximum of 1000mg daily

What is chlorpromazine?

* dopamine antagonists
* antagonists = reduce activity of neurotransmitters
* reduce dopamine activity in the brain
* blocking dopamine receptors
* reduces severity of positive symptoms (hallucinations)

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* sedation effect
* had sedative effects
* often used to calm individuals (not just with Sz)
* typically the first medication prescribed to calm the individual, especially those with high anxiety
* often used in syrup form when wanting sedative effects = works faster

Evaluation of typical antipsychotics

\+:

P - effectiveness

Ev - Thornley et al. (2003)

Ex - are effective at reducing symptoms

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\-:

P - effectiveness

Ev - side effects are severe

Ex - discourage patients from using, reduce the effectiveness

What are atypical antipsychotics?

* 1970’s
* aim was to improve the effectiveness of drugs whilst minimising the side effects
* a wide variety which all work in different ways
* clozapine & risperidone

What is clozapine?

* used in 80’s as a treatment for Sz when all other treatment failed
* can lead to dangerous blood condition so patients have regular blood tests
* only available as tablet, usually around 450mg daily dosage

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* binds to dopamine receptors in the same way as typical antipsychotics
* but also acts o serotonin and glutamate receptors
* improves mood and reduces depressive/anxiety symptoms
* prescribed when individual has high risk of suicide (around 40% of Sz patients attempt suicide)

What is risperidone?

* developed in 90s
* produce a drug as effective as clozapine without the severe side effects
* available as tablet, syrup or injection
* usually around 12mg daily dosage

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* binds to dopamine and serotonin receptors in the same way as clozapine
* binds more strongly to dopamine receptors - effective in smaller doses
* leads to fewer side effects than other antipsychotics

Evaluation of atypical antipsychotics

\+:

P - effectiveness

Ev - Meltzer

Ex - reduce the symptoms of Sz

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\-:

P - reliant on dopamine hypothesis

Ev - dopamine hypothesis

Ex - other factors could be involved