Biological Therapies

Question 1

Types of Antipsychotic Medication

Answer 1

Conventional

Atypical

Question 2

Antipsychotic medication

Answer 2

Helps the person with disorder function as well as possible in their life, as increasing their feelings of subjective well being

Conventional = combat +ve symptoms + products of overactive dopa system

Atypical = also combat +ve symptoms but claims there are also beneficial effects on -ve symptoms as well

Question 3

Conventional antipsychotic drugs

Answer 3

Reduce effect of dopa = reduce symptoms of Sz

Bind to dopa receptors but don’t stimulate them = blocking their action

Can eliminate hallucinations + delusions experienced by people with Sz

Question 4

Atypical antipsychotic drugs

Answer 4

Act on dopa system but thought to block sero receptors too

Only temporarily occupy D2 receptors + then rapidly dissociate to allow normal dopa transmission

Responsible for lower levels of side effects compared to conventional

Question 5

ECT

Answer 5

Small amount of electric current, lasting about half a second, is passed through the brain = produces seizures lasted about a minute

Requires 3-15 treatments

Question 6

ECT + Sz

Answer 6

When ECT was compared with Placebo = more improved with real ECT

When compared with antipsychotic medication = favoured medication groups

Concluded use of ECT + medication may be appropriate when rapid reduction of symptoms is required or when P’s show limited response to medication alone

Question 7

Effectiveness of conventional antipsychotics

Answer 7

Research: found relapse in 55% of placebos + only 19% in conventional antipsychotics

BUT 45% on placebo did benefit

Question 8

Appropriateness of conventional antipsychotics

Answer 8

Side effects: Tardive dyskinesia = about 30% taking conventional get Tardive dyskinesia

Prescribed medication reinforces the view that there is something wrong + prevents indi form thinking about possible stressors = reduces their motivation to look for solutions

Question 9

Effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic

Answer 9

META: superiority of these drugs compared to conventional was only moderate

Found only 2 of the new drugs were slightly more effective than conventional

Question 10

Appropriateness of atypical antipsychotics

Answer 10

Lower likelihood of Tardive Dyskinesia

Supported by study which only found TD in 5% of those on atypical compared to 30% on conventional

Also fewer side effects = p’s more likely to continue their medications + therefore see more benefits

Question 11

Effectiveness of ECT

Answer 11

Comparison of ECT + stimulated ECT = no different or worse than antipsychotic medication

Question 12

Appropriateness of ECT

Answer 12

Risks associated: memory dysfunction, brain damage + even death = use of ECT as treatment has declined

Question 13

Ethical issues

Answer 13

Use of antipsychotics = if side effects were taken into account, a cost benefit analysis of its advantages would be negative