Biological therapies for schizophrenia

Question 1

What did the Cochrane review of typical anti-psychotics find? What makes it special?

Answer 1

A meta-analysis of 302 studies.

1. Chlorpromazine reduces relapse in the short and medium term, but less in the long term.
2. Improves functioning of patients.
3. Leads to various side effects including movement disorders and lowered blood pressure.

Question 2

What did the Cochrane review of clozapine vs typical anti-psychotics find? What makes it special?

Answer 2

A meta-analysis of 52 randomised control trials.

1. No significant difference in regards to ability to work.
2. Fewer relapses with clozapine.
3. 34% of treatment resistant patients had a clinical improvement with clozapine.
4. Clozapine led to more blood problems than typical anti-psychotics (3.5% vs 0%).
5. Clozapine patients experience more drowsiness, but fewer adverse motor effects.

Question 3

What did Tharyan and Adams find with their Cochrane review in 2009? What makes it special?

Answer 3

A meta-analysis of 26 studies.

1. More ECT patients improved than sham patients.
2. ECT saw less relapses in the short term than sham ECT.
3. No evidence that less relapses were maintained over medium and long term for ECT vs Sham.
4. Results favoured drug treatment vs ECT.
5. Some evidence that drug + ECT was better than solely drugs.

Question 4

A meta-analysis of 302 studies.

1. Chlorpromazine reduces relapse in the short and medium term, but less in the long term.
2. Improves functioning of patients.
3. Leads to various side effects including movement disorders and lowered blood pressure.

Answer 4

Cochrane review of typical anti-psychotics.

Question 5

A meta-analysis of 52 randomised control trials.

1. No significant difference in regards to ability to work.
2. Fewer relapses with clozapine.
3. 34% of treatment resistant patients had a clinical improvement with clozapine.
4. Clozapine led to more blood problems than typical anti-psychotics (3.5% vs 0%).
5. Clozapine patients experience more drowsiness, but fewer adverse motor effects.

Answer 5

Cochrane review of clozapine vs typical anti-psychotics.

Question 6

A meta-analysis of 26 studies.

1. More ECT patients improved than sham patients.
2. ECT saw less relapses in the short term than sham ECT.
3. No evidence that less relapses were maintained over medium and long term for ECT vs Sham.
4. Results favoured drug treatment vs ECT.
5. Some evidence that drug + ECT was better than solely drugs.

Answer 6

Tharyan and Adams (Cochrane review), 2009.