6.4: Drug therapies Flashcards
Two years ago Jenny was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She has been taking a typical antipsychotic drug and there have been improvements in her positive symptoms. However she still suffers negative symptoms and side effects. Her psychiatrist wants to change her medication from typical antipsychotics to one of the atypical antipsychotics and has also suggested cognitive behavioural therapy.
With reference to the item above, explain why Jenny’s psychiatrist wants to move her on to one of the atypical antipsychotics (4 marks)
Jenny’s psychiatrist wants to move her on to one of the atypical antipsychotics, because atypical antipsychotics have been shown to be more effective against negative symptoms
Two years ago Jenny was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She has been taking a typical antipsychotic drug and there have been improvements in her positive symptoms. However she still suffers negative symptoms and side effects. Her psychiatrist wants to change her medication from typical antipsychotics to one of the atypical antipsychotics and has also suggested cognitive behavioural therapy.
With reference to the item above, explain why Jenny’s psychiatrist wants to move her on to one of the atypical antipsychotics (4 marks).
Jenny’s psychiatrist wants to move her on to one of the atypical antipsychotics, because atypical antipsychotics have been shown to be more effective against negative symptoms.
Typical antipsychotics (such as chlorpromazine) are liable to produce movement side effects, sometimes resembling Parkinson’s disease. They mainly affect dopamine pathways
Two years ago Jenny was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She has been taking a typical antipsychotic drug and there have been improvements in her positive symptoms. However she still suffers negative symptoms and side effects. Her psychiatrist wants to change her medication from typical antipsychotics to one of the atypical antipsychotics and has also suggested cognitive behavioural therapy.
With reference to the item above, explain why Jenny’s psychiatrist wants to move her on to one of the atypical antipsychotics (4 marks).
Jenny’s psychiatrist wants to move her on to one of the atypical antipsychotics, because atypical antipsychotics have been shown to be more effective against negative symptoms.
Typical antipsychotics (such as chlorpromazine) are liable to produce movement side effects, sometimes resembling Parkinson’s disease.
They mainly affect dopamine pathways.
Atypical antipsychotics are less liable to produce movement side effects; they have less action on the dopamine system, and instead affect a wide range of neurotransmitter systems
A researcher investigated the effectiveness of typical and atypical psychotics in schizophrenia patients with either negative or positive symptoms.
Percentages of patients with either negative or positive symptoms, responding well to typical or atypical antipsychotics:
Number of patients responding well to atypical antipsychotics = 30 patients with negative symptoms and 60 patients with positive symptoms.
Number of patients responding well to typical antipsychotics = 16 patients with negative symptoms and 60 patients with positive symptoms.
What does the data in the table seem to show about the effectiveness of typical and atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia? (4 marks)
Atypical and typical antipsychotics are equally effective against positive symptoms with more than half of patients responding well
A researcher investigated the effectiveness of typical and atypical psychotics in schizophrenia patients with either negative or positive symptoms.
Percentages of patients with either negative or positive symptoms, responding well to typical or atypical antipsychotics:
Number of patients responding well to atypical antipsychotics = 30 patients with negative symptoms and 60 patients with positive symptoms.
Number of patients responding well to typical antipsychotics = 16 patients with negative symptoms and 60 patients with positive symptoms.
What does the data in the table seem to show about the effectiveness of typical and atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia? (4 marks).
Atypical and typical antipsychotics are equally effective against positive symptoms with more than half of patients responding well.
The main difference is that negative symptoms respond better to atypical antipsychotics, as 30% improve compared with 16% with typical antipsychotics
A researcher investigated the effectiveness of typical and atypical psychotics in schizophrenia patients with either negative or positive symptoms.
Percentages of patients with either negative or positive symptoms, responding well to typical or atypical antipsychotics:
Number of patients responding well to atypical antipsychotics = 30 patients with negative symptoms and 60 patients with positive symptoms.
Number of patients responding well to typical antipsychotics = 16 patients with negative symptoms and 60 patients with positive symptoms.
What does the data in the table seem to show about the effectiveness of typical and atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia? (4 marks).
Atypical and typical antipsychotics are equally effective against positive symptoms with more than half of patients responding well.
The main difference is that negative symptoms respond better to atypical antipsychotics, as 30% improve compared with 16% with typical antipsychotics.
Atypical antipsychotics are more effective against negative symptoms
A researcher investigated the effectiveness of typical and atypical psychotics in schizophrenia patients with either negative or positive symptoms.
Percentages of patients with either negative or positive symptoms, responding well to typical or atypical antipsychotics:
Number of patients responding well to atypical antipsychotics = 30 patients with negative symptoms and 60 patients with positive symptoms.
Number of patients responding well to typical antipsychotics = 16 patients with negative symptoms and 60 patients with positive symptoms.
What does the data in the table seem to show about the effectiveness of typical and atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia? (4 marks).
Atypical and typical antipsychotics are equally effective against positive symptoms with more than half of patients responding well.
The main difference is that negative symptoms respond better to atypical antipsychotics, as 30% improve compared with 16% with typical antipsychotics.
Atypical antipsychotics are more effective against negative symptoms.
These findings support the view that they act on different neurotransmitters
