Biological therapies for SZ Flashcards
most common treatment for SZ
drugs - specifically antipsychotic drugs
= taken in the form of tablets, syrup or injections
= taken to control symptoms
two main types of antipsychotic drugs
- typical antipsychotics
- atypical antipsychotics
typical antipsychotics
- are dopamine antagonists + work by reducing the effects of dopamine, therefore reducing the effects of SZ
- happens by blocking the dopamine receptors
- reduce the positive symptoms of SZ e.g. hallucinations
- have been around since the 1950s
- have strong links to the dopamine hypothesis explanation = high dopamine = SZ symptoms
- e.g. Chlorpromazine
Chlorpromazine
- max dosage = 1000mg
- when given first = low doses but gradually increased from about 400mg to 800mg
- referencing the dopamine hypothesis explanation, antagonist drug would normalise the dopamine production + transmission
atypical antipsychotics
- emerged in the 1970s
- used to improve upon the effectiveness + minimise the side effects of typical antipsychotics
- beneficial effect on negative symptoms + cognitive impairment
- clozapine
- risperidone
clozapine
- atypical antipsychotic
- developed in 1960s but came back in 1980s
- more effective treatment than typical antipsychs
- only available as syrup or tablet
- dosage = 300 - 450mg per day
- binds to dopamine receptors + acts on serotonin
- helps to reduce depression + anxiety + improve cognitive functioning
risperidone
- atypical antipsychotic
- emerged in 1990s
- reduce serious side effects of clozapine
- taken as syrup, tablet, injection
- 4-8mg, max 12mg
- binds to dopamine receptors
ads of drug therapy
- research evidence = chlorpromazine vs placebo
- research evidence = clozapine
- research evidence = relapse rates w/ placebos
disads of drug therapy
- serious side effects
- effectiveness?
- ethical issues
chlorpromazine vs placebo - ads
- there is research evidence to support the MODERATE effectiveness of typical antipsychotic
- a psych compared the use of chlorpromazine (typical) w/ a placebo
- data from 13 trials showed reduced symptoms + better overall functioning
- study shows that typical antipsychs were effective in reducing the symptoms of SZ compared to a placebo
= drug therapy is appropriate in treating SZ
clozapine - ads
research evidence to support the appropriateness of atypical antipsychotics
- concluded that clozapine (atypical) is more effective than typical antipsychs, where typical had failed
- seen as effective in 3-50% where typical antipsychs had failed
relapse rates w/ placebos - ads
- there is research evidence to support the fact that relapse rates are much lower when patients take antipsychotic drugs (typical + atypical) as opposed to placebos
- a meta-analysis of 65 studies involving nearly 6000 patients
= some patients taken of antipsychs + given placebos instead
= within 12 months, 64% of those patients who had been given placebo relapsed, whereas only 27% relapsed when on antipsychs
= antipsychs are appropriate + effective
serious side effects - disads
biggest weakness is that there are serious side effects
= e.g. dizziness, agitation, sleepiness, stiff jaw, weight gain, itchy skin
- resulted in tardive dyskinesia (irreversible) = involuntary facial movements e.g. grimacing, blinking + lip smacking
- most serious side effects is NMS which can lead to high temperature, delirium and coma
effectiveness? - disads
problems with the evidence for the effectiveness of drugs
- data published on multiple occasions has been exaggerating the effectiveness
- because the drugs have powerful calming effects, it seems as though the drugs are successfully but this doesn’t really show how much the drugs actually reduce the symptoms
= and they only assess the short-term benefits rathe than long term benefits
