Antipsychotic Pharmacology Flashcards
Chlorpromazine and Haloperidol
Typical antipsychotic. Binds to D2 receptors in the brain. Non-specific, long acting blockade causes EPSE.
Clozapine and Olanzapine
Atypical antipsychotics. Bind better to D2 receptors in parts of the brain that controls psychosis. Blocks or loosely competes with serotonin.
What are the causes of psychosis?
Drug-induced Other conditions (neurological, infectious and metabolic)
How is schizophrenia characterized?
- Disordered thought processes
- Psychotic features
- Disrupted interpersonal relationships
- Disturbances in thought processes that affects mood and behaviour
What are the symptoms of psychosis?
Positive symptoms relating to dopamine excess, and negative symptoms that are unrelated to dopamine.
What are positive symptoms?
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Disorganized thought
- Perception Disturbances
- Inappropriate emotions
What are negative symptoms?
- Blunted emotions
- Anhedonia (inability to exp. pleasure)
- Lack of feeling
What are cognitive symptoms?
Trouble with memory and new learning
What are mood symptoms?
- Decreased motivation and demoralization
- Social and withdrawal
- Insight
- Suicide
What brain structural changes occur with schizophrenia?
- Disordered hippocampal pyramidal cells
- Linked to disordered thought processes
- Increased loss of grey matter, which is progressive
- Changes are irreversible
How is schizophrenia managed or treated?
- There is no cure and it is very hard to treat
- Many end up hospitalized
- Earlier diagnosis = Better prognosis
- 3 main aspects of treatment - antipsychotic meds, psychological support, and social support
What is the main idea behind pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia?
- Blockage of dopaminergic transmission (thus D2 receptors are main target)
