Biological therapies

Question 1

What are antipsychotics used for?

Answer 1

They are drugs used to reduce the intensity of psychotic symptoms, particularly positive symptoms like hallucinations in schizophrenia.

Question 2

What are typical antipsychotics?

Answer 2

First-generation drugs for schizophrenia, used since the 1950s.
Work as dopamine antagonists and include chlorpromazine.

Question 3

How does chlorpromazine work?

Answer 3

Blocks dopamine receptors, initially increasing dopamine before reducing it.
Reduces symptoms like hallucinations.
Also has a sedative effect, used to calm individuals.
Can be given in syrup form.

Question 4

What are atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 4

Developed after typical antipsychotics.
They typically target a range of neurotransmitters
eg dopamine and serotonin.

Question 5

What are the key features of clozapine?

Answer 5

More effective than typical antipsychotics
Requires regular blood tests to monitor for agranulocytosis
Not available as an injection due to side effects.
Lower daily dosage (300-400 mg).
Binds to serotonin and glutamate receptors.
Helps improve mood, reduce depression and anxiety, making it useful for high suicide risk patients.
Used when other treatments have failed.

Question 6

What are the key features of risperidone?

Answer 6

Developed in the 1990s to be as effective as clozapine but with fewer side effects.
Available in tablets, syrup, or injection (lasts 2 weeks).
Builds up dosage gradually.
Binds strongly to dopamine receptors (more than clozapine).
Effective in smaller doses.
Treats positive and negative symptoms.