Antipsychotic Drug Treatment

Question 1

How can antipsychotics be prescribed?

Answer 1

Injection, tablet or syrup

Question 2

What is the average daily dose of an antipsychotic?

Answer 2

4.8mg

Question 3

What is the maximum daily dose of antipsychotics?

Answer 3

12mg

Question 4

What do antipsychotics act as?

Answer 4

Dopamine antagonists

Question 5

When were typical antipsychotics created?

Answer 5

1950’s

Question 6

What is a type of typical antipsychotics?

Answer 6

Chlorpromazine

Question 7

Define dopamine antagonist

Answer 7

Blocks dopamine receptors in the brain to reduce the amount of dopamine. Increases and then reduces dopamine which normalises the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Question 8

What symptoms do dopamine antagonists help?

Answer 8

Reduces hallucinations

Question 9

State 3 side effects of typical antipsychotics

Answer 9

Constipation
Low sex drive
Tardive dyskinesia

Question 10

Define what is meant by tardive dyskinesia

Answer 10

Uncontrollable movements of the face, jaw, younger, neck, lip sucking, cheek sucking.

Question 11

State two types of atypical antipsychotics

Answer 11

Clozapine and resperidone

Question 12

What happens when you take atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 12

Glutamine and Serotonin receptors are bound together in order to relieve negative symptoms such as avolition.

Question 13

What type of patients are atypical antipsychotics typically prescribed too?

Answer 13

Patients that are a high suicide risk

Question 14

What percentage of patients attempt suicide?

Answer 14

30-50%

Question 15

What fatal blood condition is associated with atypical antipsychotics and how do you prevent it?

Answer 15

Agranulocytosis is associated with atypical antipsychotics and it is prevented by having regular blood tests.

Question 16

State 3 side effects of atypical antipsychotics

Answer 16

High cholesterol
Agranulocytosis
Decreased sex drive

Question 17

What is the difference between atypical and typical antipsychotics?

Answer 17

Atypical is seen to be safer due to the decreased amount of side effects

Question 18

Who carried out research into atypical and typical antipsychotics?

Answer 18

Bagnall et al

Question 19

What was the Aim of Bagnall et al’s research into typical and atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 19

To compare the clinical effectiveness, safety and cost of antipsychotics against treatment resistant and first onset schizophrenia.

Question 20

What was the Procedure of Bagnall et al’s research into typical and atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 20

Compiled data from 171 randomly controlled trials and 52 non-randomised trials of effectiveness. Data compiled from 31 economic evaluations which were analysed by 2 independent researchers to increase inter-rater validity.

Question 21

What were the findings from Bagnall et al’s research: Effectiveness

Answer 21

Atypical drugs were more effective in reducing symptoms with no difference in first onset schizophrenics

Question 22

What were the findings from Bagnall et al’s research: Cost

Answer 22

Atypical are more expensive

Question 23

What were the findings from Bagnall et al’s research: Side effects

Answer 23

Atypical = fewer movement disorders but were associated with cardiac death
Typical = increase salivation, movement, temperature and nasal congestion

Question 24

What were the findings from Bagnall et al’s research: Drop-out rates

Answer 24

Fewer patients left atypical drug trials

Question 25

What did Bagnall et al conclude from his research into atypical and typical antipsychotics?

Answer 25

Atypical drugs are more effective and different drugs suit different patients better which is determined via trial and error.