5 Biological treatments SZ Flashcards
Antipsychotics
Drug targeting psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorders are known as anti-psychotics. Drug therapy aims to enable the person to function and improve their well-being. Anti-psychotics all reduce dopaminegric transmission in particular brain areas.
Typical Antipsychotics
Combat the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
However this does not treat negative symptoms and has harmful side effects.
Atypical Anti-psychotics
Avoids side effects while combating positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia as well as cognitive symptoms.
Evaluation Point: Effectiveness Antisychotic Versus Placebo
A meta-analysis of 65 studies including 6000 patients concluded that 64% of patients taken off anti psychotics and given a placebo relapsed within 12 months compared to 27% of those who stayed on anti psychotics. This shows the effectiveness of Anti psychotic treatment
Evaluation Point: Side Effects
Typical antipsychotic produce movement problems such as Parkinson in 50% of patients. They affect the area in the brain for motor control and function. After an extended period other involuntary movements occur. This raises ethical issues in prescribing these drugs
Evaluation Point: Advantages of Atypical over Typical
Newly developed atypical anti-psychotics have fewer side effects so patients are more likely to continue taking them and experience symptom reduction thus increasing their effectiveness.
Evaluation Point: Reliability on Atypical
A meta-analysis of 15 studies found no significant differences between typical and atypical anti-psychotics in their effect on symptoms. Side effects were different. Patients on atypical drugs gained more weight but had fewer side effects than those on typical drugs,
Evaluation Point: Motivational Deficts
Prescribing medication reinforces a biological explanation of schizophrenia, so people arent motivated to look for solutions to social or cognitive factors which may be contributing to their suffering.
