🧠 Biological Treatments for Schizophrenia 🧠

Neurochemical imbalances

Disruptions in the brain's chemical systems that can lead to conditions such as schizophrenia.

Antipsychotic drugs

Medications primarily used to manage psychotic disorders by altering neurotransmitter activity.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of mood and behavior, often linked to schizophrenia.

Typical Antipsychotics

First-generation antipsychotic drugs developed in the 1950s that primarily block dopamine D2 receptors.

Atypical Antipsychotics

Second-generation antipsychotic drugs developed in the 1990s that target both dopamine and serotonin receptors.

Positive symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia that include hallucinations and delusions.

Negative symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia that include avolition and social withdrawal.

Dopamine Hypothesis

The theory that the symptoms of schizophrenia are linked to hyperactivity of dopamine in certain brain pathways.

Extrapyramidal symptoms

Side effects of typical antipsychotics that affect motor control, including tremors.

Clozapine

An atypical antipsychotic that is highly effective but can cause agranulocytosis.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

An emerging biological treatment using magnetic fields to stimulate areas of the brain linked to schizophrenia.

Glutamate-Based Drugs

Experimental drugs targeting glutamate activity, which is linked to cognitive symptoms.

Agranulocytosis

A potentially fatal drop in white blood cell count that can occur with clozapine use.

Relapse rates

The frequency of returning to a previous state of illness; reported as lower with antipsychotic medication compared to placebo.

Thornley et al. (meta-analysis)

Research that found Chlorpromazine was associated with significantly better functioning compared to placebo.

Davis et al. (1980)

Conducted a meta-analysis showing antipsychotics are effective in preventing relapse in schizophrenia.

Serotonin-Dopamine Interaction

The mechanism by which atypical antipsychotics block both dopamine and serotonin receptors to treat schizophrenia symptoms.

Compliance

The degree to which patients follow prescribed treatment; often affected by medication side effects.

Ethical issues in treatment

Concerns regarding over-sedation and long-term dependency risks associated with antipsychotic medications.