Biological Therapies Flashcards
Drug therapy
Antipsychotics can be used to treat sz. Can be taken as a tablet or in syrup form.
What are typical antipsychotics
Around since 1950’s and include chloroprozamine.
There is a strong association by chloroprozamine and the dopamine hypothesis
Work by blocking dopamine receptors in the synapse reducing the action of dopamine
Aytipical antipshycotics
Have been used since 1979’s aim was to produce drugs that were more effective and minimise side effects.
Clozapine - was discovered most effective
Risperidone
Developed as a safer alternative to clozapine. Can be taken as a tablet syrup or injection
Evidence for effectiveness
Thornley et al study
Meltzer study
Thornley et al (2003)
Reviewed studies comparing effects of chloroprozamine to control conditions
Data from 13 trials with 1121 rps showed CH was associated with better overall functioning and reduced symptom severity
Data from 3 trials with 512 rps showed relapse rate was reduced when CH was taken
Meltzer 2012
Concluded clozapine is more effective than typical antipsychotics and other atypical antipsychotics.
Serious side effects.
Typical antipsychotics were associated with a range of long term side effects from dizziness sleepiness stiff jaw weight gain and itchy skin.
Long term - tar dive dyskinesia
Use of antipsychotics depend on dopamine hypothesis
Dopamine hypothesis suggests higher levels of dopamine activity in the subcortex however there is evidence that original dopamine hypothesis was incomplete.
In this case it was unclear how dopamine antoganists can help reduce activity
Problems with evidence for effectiveness
Healy 2012 has suggested that some successful trials have had their data published numerous times exaggerating the positive effects.
Studies address short term rather than long term benefits
The chemical cosh argument
Widely believed antipsychotics have been used in hospital situations to calm patients and make them easier for staff to work with rather than for the benefit of the patient
