Antipsychotics - Evaluation Flashcards
1 Strength- Placebo VS Drug
Cole et al: investigated effectiveness of drug therapy compared to placebo. Found 75% improvement rate when taking antipsychotic compared to a 25% improvement rate with placebo. Suggests that antipsych med is an effective way of treating schz
H/O- not effective for all (not 100% improvement) 25% improvement from placebo- highlights that belief in the treatment alone can reduce symptoms.
1 Strength- Atypical Better
Atypical are thought to be more effective.
Ravanic: compared clozapine with chlorpromazine in 325 individuals. In over 5 years; found significant differences in psychometric testing, clozapine had fewer side effects.
Suggesting that atypical is more effective than con, h/O, some ind respond better with convential so they still have an important role in treatment.
A-typical= more ethical - less side effects
Suggests antipsychs are an effective and ethical way of treating schz
1 Weakness: RDS
Drug therapy treat symptoms: not a cure (palliative not curative)
Most individuals stop taking meds when they begin to feel better; due to not coping w/ side effects or just forgetting. This results in RDS of continul discharge into community and readmission into hospitals - inc costs for NHS
1 Weakness: Non-compliance
Major issue= non-comp
Rettenbacker: found full-compliance only in 52.4% of ind w/ schz, partial comp 8.3%, non-comp of 37.5%
Suggests that antipsychs taken in real world may not be as effective as when taken in a closely monitored clinical setting.
1 Strength: (Social)
Antipsychs have revolutionised care from an incurable condition which required institutionalisation to a condition which can be treated in the community leading to recovery.
Implications on society: enables ind to live a relatively normal life (benefits patient) also reduces overall costs to society (not paying for a lifetime of hopsitalisation)
1 Weakness: (ethical)
Side effects: tardive dyskinesia and seizures
As a result, psychologists need to consider whether benefits outweigh costs. When ind first diagnosed/experience acute episode may be medicated without valid consent.
1 Strength (Social)
Antipsychs may reduce risk of self-harm and violence.
NCISH reported 346 homicides commited in England by individuals with history of schz- 29% of those were non-comp to medication.
H/O- cannot be sure if non-comp is a cause of violence, may just be a risk factor.
Suggests that ind w/ schz need to be monitored closely to reduce risks to society and help psychiatrists assess effectiveness of antipsychs
1 Weakness (ethical)
Anti-psychiatry movement belives that antipsychs are a little more than a chemical straightjacket (way of controlling people)
Highlights important ethical issue: to treat and infringe on human rights or to not treat
