3) Schizophrenia - Drug Therapy

Question 1

Which drugs are used to treat schizophrenia?

Answer 1

Antipsychotics

Question 2

What do antipsychotics do?

Answer 2

Reduce the intensity of symptoms, particularly positive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Question 3

What are the two types of antipsychotics>

Answer 3

Typical (old) and Atypical

Question 4

Give an example of a typical antipsychotic

Answer 4

Chlorpromazine

Question 5

How do typical antipsychotics work?

Answer 5

• Act as dopamine antagonists meaning they reduce the action of dopamine by blocking dopamine receptors in the synapses of the brain.
• ## Reduces symptoms like hallucinations

Question 6

What was the aim of developing (newer) atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 6

• To maintain or improve the effectiveness of drugs in suppressing the symptoms of psychosis and also minimise side effects.

Question 7

Name two atypical antipsychotics.

Answer 7

Clozapine and Risperidone

Question 8

What does clozapine do?

Answer 8

• Binds to receptors the same way that chlorpromazine does but acts on serotonin and glutamate receptors too.
• It is believed that this action helps reduce depression and anxiety in people and also improve cognitive functioning.

Question 9

When is clozapine prescribed?

Answer 9

• As a last resort.

- When a person is at a high risk of committing suicide.`

Question 10

What does risperidone do?

Answer 10

• Bind to dopamine and serotonin receptors.
• Similar to clozapine but risperidone binds more strongly to dopamine receptors so it is more effective in smaller doses than most antipsychotics.

Question 11

Give a strength of drug therapies.

Answer 11

P - There is a large amount if evidence supporting drug therapies.
E - Thornley et al reviewed studies comparing the effects of Chlorpromazine to control conditions in which people also received a placebo.
E - Data from 13 trials showed that Chlorpromazine showed better overall functioning and reduced symptom severity, data from 512 participants showed that relapse rate was also lower.

Question 12

Give a limitation of Drug Therapies

Answer 12

P - A limitation of antipsychotics is that there may side effects involved.
E - Typical antipsychotics are associated with side effects such as dizziness, agitation, sleepiness etc.
The most serous side effect is called NMS, believed to be caused by blocked dopamine action in the hypothalamus which is associated with regulating body systems. Meaning it could lead to things like high temperature, comas etc.
E - Although atypical AP have been developed to reduce these symptoms, they still exist and when drugs such as Clozapine are taken, regular blood tests must be taken.

Question 13

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