Biological Approach - Therapy: Drug Therapy Flashcards
what are the 3 assumptions
- Evolutionary influences (i.e. natural selection + EEA)
- Localisation of brain function (i.e. the 4 lobes + localisation of language)
- Neurotransmitters (i.e. synaptic transmission)
which assumption links to being the basis of drug therapy
3) Neurotransmitters
–> we can cure mental illness by changing chemical balances of neurotransmitters
what are the 3 drugs we need to know + what they treat
- Antipsychotics = schizophrenia
- Antidepressants = depression
- Anti-anxiety = anxiety/stress
what are the 2 types of antipsychotic drugs
- conventional antipsychotics
- atypical antipsychotics
what do conventional antipsychotic drugs combat + how
- they combat the positive symptoms of schizophrenia (e.g. delusions and hallucinations)
- they block the action of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain by binding to (but not stimulating) dopamine receptors)
–> can cause side effects
How do atypical antipsychotic drugs work
- temporarily occupy dopamine receptors then dissociates (leading to less side-effects)
give an example of an antipsychotic drug
- Clozaril
- it reduces primary symptoms of schizophrenia
- side effect = tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movement of mouth/tongue)
how do antidepressants work
- SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
- block the transporter mechanism that reabsorbs serotonin into the presynaptic cell after it has fired
- leads to more serotonin being left in the synapse, prolonging activity and making the transmission of the next impulse easier
give an example of an antidepressant
- e.g. of an SSRI = Prozac
- it reduces serotonin by prolonging its activity
what are the 2 types of antianxiety drugs
- BZs (benzodiazepines)
- BBs (Beta-blockers)
how do BZs work + examples of them
- slow down activity of the CNS
- they do this by enhancing the activity of GABA (a neurotransmitter) which is the body’s natural form of anxiety release
- e.g. Librium and Valium
how do BBs work
- reduce the activity of adrenaline and noradrenaline
- achieved by binding to the receptors of the heart and other body parts stimulated by stress response
- leads to the heart beating slower and with less force
how does the first assumption link to drug therapy
- medical models recommends a patient should be treated for their mental illness through direct manipulation of their physical bodily processes
–> which would be drug therapy
how does the second assumption link to drug therapy
- drugs target specific regions of the brain which are involved in psychological disorders
- e.g. the limbic system
How does the third assumption link to drug therapy
- Alter the action of neurotransmitters and treat mental disorder by increasing/decreasing the action of them
- this will influence emotions, thoughts and actions
how do all the assumptions overall link to drug therapy
- the medical model suggests that: psychological disorders (such as depression/schizophrenia) have a physiological cause —> therefore mental illness = physical illness
- mental illness have a physical cause characterised by a cluster of symptoms (a ‘syndrome’) and therefore can be treated in a physical way
- this physical way is drug therapy
what is some of the research + evidence that suggests drug therapy is effective
- Soomro et al. (2008)
- Kahn et al. (1986)
- comparisons with other treatments
what is some of the research + evidence that suggests drug therapy is not effective
- side effects
- symptoms not cause
Why is Soomro et al. Prove that drug therapy is effective
- Tested drug vs placebo
- reviewed 17 studies of the use of SSRIs with OCD (which has a component of depression)
- SSRIs = more effective in reducing symptoms of OCD up to 3 months after treatment, i.e. short term
Why is Kahn et al. Prove that drug therapy is effective
- follows 25 patients over 8 weeks
- found BZs to be more effective than placebos
What is the weakness to both Soomro and Kahn
- they are short-term data
- don’t have any long term data to compare with already existing techniques
Why is ‘comparison with other treatments‘ proof that drug therapy is effective
- drug therapy = cheaper than other treatments (e.g. psychotherapy)
- because it can be prescribed by the NHS
- practitioner doesn’t have to invest as much time in the patient (only meeting every couple of months)
Why are ‘side effects’ proof that drug therapy isn’t effective
- Soomro et al: side effects of SSRIs included = nausea, headaches, insomnia
- makes people prefer not to take the drug
E.G - tricyclic antidepressants: have more side effects (hallucinations and irregular heartbeat), they’re used if SSRIs aren’t effective
Why is ‘symptoms not cause’ proof that drug therapy isn’t effective
- If a person suffers from depression as a result of childhod trauma, antidepressants = a short-term solution
- BUT in long-term = disorder isn’t dealt with
- So…’revolving door syndrome’
—> Patient is back and forth to their doctor as the disorder is never really cured
What are the 3 mains ethical issues with drug therapy
- Use of placebo
- Valid consent
- Medical professionals may withhold information
Describe the ethical issue of ‘use of placebo’
- no patient should be given a treatment known to be inferior
- new treatments can be tested against existing treatments known to be effective (control condition)
—> tests for concurrent validity
Describe the ethical issue of ‘Valid consent’
- lack of valid consent
- many patients find it difficult to recall all the side effects associated with a drug or may find it hard to digest the information
Describe the ethical issue of ‘Medical professionals may withhold information’
- Medical professionals may withhold some information, e.g. benefits of the drug are slim, or they may exaggerate the benefits of taking it
When writing an essay about why it is/isn’t effective, what paragraphs should u do
- :) Soomro et al. / Kahn et al
- :) comparison with other treatments
- :( side effects
- :( symptoms not cause
When writing an essay about ethics, what should u write about
- use of placebo
- Valid consent
- Medical professionals may withhold info
