Biological Therapies Flashcards
Types of Antipsychotic Medication
Conventional
Atypical
Antipsychotic medication
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
Conventional antipsychotic drugs
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
Atypical antipsychotic drugs
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
ECT
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
ECT + Sz
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
Effectiveness of conventional antipsychotics
Research: found relapse in 55% of placebos + only 19% in conventional antipsychotics
BUT 45% on placebo did benefit
Appropriateness of conventional antipsychotics
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
Effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic
META: superiority of these drugs compared to conventional was only moderate
Found only 2 of the new drugs were slightly more effective than conventional
Appropriateness of atypical antipsychotics
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
Effectiveness of ECT
Comparison of ECT + stimulated ECT = no different or worse than antipsychotic medication
Appropriateness of ECT
Risks associated: memory dysfunction, brain damage + even death = use of ECT as treatment has declined
Ethical issues
Use of antipsychotics = if side effects were taken into account, a cost benefit analysis of its advantages would be negative
