biological therapy

Question 1

typical antipsychotics

chlorpromazine

Answer 1

-1st one was chlorpormazine + primarly treats positive symptoms such as hallucinations+thought distrubances which r caused by overanctive dopmaine system
-By reducing stimulation of the dopamine system in the mesolimbic pathway, this helps eliminate hallucinations and delusions
-aim to reduce effects of dop+pos symps
-NOT cure but dampens effects of sz to help them function
-tablets or syrup+also work as sedative

Question 2

typical antipsychotics
side effects

Answer 2

-effects on other neurotransmitter systems eg cholinergic, alpha- adrenergic, histaminergic and serotonergic mechanisms.
-anticholinergic SE=dry mouth, urinary rpoblems, constipation+visual distrurbance
-noradrenergic SE=low blood pressure, sex problems+nasal congestion
-LONG TERM= lead to tardive dyskinesia in 15% of sufferers which involves uncontrollable muscle movemetns in mouth

Question 3

atypical antipsychotics

clozapine+risperidone

Answer 3

-introduce in 1990s such as clozapine- works by acting on serotonin+glutamate receptors+dopamine production systems+affect negative symptoms of disorder such as reduced emotional expression+cognitive impairment+depression
-mood enhancing effects so soemtimes prescribed when indivual is considered high risk suicide= important as 30 to 50% of ppl w sz attempt suicide at 1 point
-syrup/tablet
-improve positive but better at reducing negative symptoms

Question 4

atypical antipsychotics
side effects

Answer 4

-less side effects, not always known specifically how they affect brain to alleviate symptoms
-similarly to TAP they act on dopamine system blocking D2 receptors but only occupy them temporarily before rapidly dissociating to allow normal dopamine transmission
-believed this rapid disassociation may be responsible for lower levels of side effects such as tardive dyskinesia but ATAP have other side effects too
-incls weight gain, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, ^ risk of stroke, cardiac arrest, blood cots+diabetes

Question 5

ao3

evidence support

Answer 5

-davis et al (1989) did meta analysis of 100+ studies that compared ap w placesbos
-results found ap were more effective w over 70% sufferers seeing improvements after 6 weeks of use while less than 25% reported improvements w placebos
-BUT 1 of his studies by vaughn+leff found ap meds did make big diff but only for those living w hostility+criticism in home enviroment
-as in these relapse rates=53% for those on meds but w placebo=92%
-so those living in more supportive enviroments there was no diff between those on meds+placebos (12%+15% relapse)
-so enviroment conditions+^hostility=linked w ^ relapse rates

Question 6

ao3

atypical ap=very effective

Answer 6

-marder 1996 reported atupical ap (clozapine) r as effective as TAP w 30-61% of ppts who were resistant to TAP responding to them.
-shows ATAP may be ^ appropriate+effective when they dont respond to TAP
-patients taking ATAP report less side effects meaning they r more likely to continue taking meds so improves symps

Question 7

ao3 counterpoint

bad side effects from ATAP

Answer 7

-evidence for serious side effects like reduction in white blood cells which can lead to infection+maybe death=inappropriate as first port of call
-so blood tests r required regularly for white blood cell count+this=another reason why atap tend to be prescribed after conventional drugs are tried first due to the high risks of infection or illness.

Question 8

ao3

side effects for TAP

Answer 8

-carry riskj of developing permant tardive dyskinsea=could make them inappropriate as effcts of this may be seen as worse than that of sz by patients
-ATAP also carry risk of serious health problems eg weightloss or stroke,cardiac arrest+diabetes
=both ap can be inappropriate and even unethical
-in a cost benefit it has more costs. also legal bases for this as one tardive dyskinesia sufferer in the US even won a large out-of-court settlement on the basis of this drug treatment breaching the human rights act 1988 (Chari et al 2002).

Question 9

ao3

ross+read

Answer 9

-ross+read (2004) argue that being prescribed meds reinforces view theres something wrong w u
-they argue this prevents indivual from thinking about possible stressors that might be a trigger for their condition in turn reducing motivation to look for solutions beyond drugs
-haslam 2004 reseach found that when ppl were surveyed on causes of sz many said social factors like poverty or traumtic childhood which ppts may be less likely to confront if they were simply given drugs to manage symps
-so drugs may be inappropriate for many when soical factors can be addressed instead first