Antipsychotics

Question 1

What are antipsychotics used to treat?

Answer 1

Psychiatric disorders, e.g. schizophrenia

Question 2

What is the biological cause of schizophrenia?

Answer 2

High levels of dopamine

Question 3

What are the two types of antipsychotic drugs?

Answer 3

• Conventional antipsychotics
• Atypical antipsychotics

Question 4

What are positive symptoms?

Answer 4

Positive symptoms include any behaviour/symptoms that the individual did not previously experience, e.g. hallucinations, delusions (they would have never previously experienced these symptoms, however, they would have gained them as a result of Sz)

Question 5

What are negative symptoms?

Answer 5

Negative symptoms involve the loss of ability to do something they previously could, e.g. social withdrawal (they would previously be able to socialise normally, however the ability to do so would now be limited for the individual)

Question 6

What symptoms of Sz do conventional antipsychotics treat?

Answer 6

Positive symptoms

Question 7

How do conventional antipsychotics work?

Answer 7

• Conventional antipsychotics lower dopamine levels
• They do this by binding to (but NOT stimulating) dopamine receptors on the post-synaptic neuron
• This blocks the uptake of dopamine and reduces its activity

Question 8

What symptoms do atypical antipsychotics treat?

Answer 8

Positive and negative symptoms

Question 9

How do atypical antipsychotics work?

Answer 9

• Atypical antipsychotics reduce dopamine in the synapse
• They do this by temporarily binding to dopamine receptors on the post-synaptic neuron
• They then rapidly dissociate to allow normal dopamine transmission

Question 10

Which antipsychotic drugs has fewer side effects?

Answer 10

Atypical antipsychotics typically have fewer side effects