biological therapy for SZ

Question 1

what is the most common treatment for sz

Answer 1

antipsychotic drugs

Question 2

what are typical antipsychotics

Answer 2

traditional antipsychotics

Question 3

what are atypical antipsychotics

Answer 3

newer/ 2nd gen drugs

Question 4

what are dopamine antagonists

Answer 4

strong association between use of typical antipsychs and dope hyp

TA like chlorpromazine work by acting as antagonists in the dope system
antagonists are chemicals which reduce the action of a NT
dope antagonists block dope receptors in synapses of the brain, reducing dope action
according to og dope hyp - this normalises neurotransmission in key areas of the brain, reducing hallucinations

Question 5

sedation effect ao1

Answer 5

TA has sedative effects
calms patients down
done when patients are first admitted to hospitals and are very anxious

Question 6

clozapine ao1

Answer 6

AA
binds to dope receptors in the same way that TAs do
but adds on serotonin and glutamate receptors = helps improve mood + reduce depression and anxiety in patients + improve cognitive functioning

mood enhancing effects mean in its prescribed to more high risk of suicide patients
important because 30-50% of SZs attempt suicide at some point

Question 7

risperidone ao1

Answer 7

more recently discovered - since 1990s
binds to dope and serotonin receptors
binds more strongly to dope receptors than clozapine = more effective in smaller doses than most antipsychotics
leads to fewer side effects than other antipsychotics

Question 8

strength of antipsychs ao1

Answer 8

evidence to support effectiveness
Thornley et al
reviewed studies comparing effects of chlorpromazine to control conditions
data from 13 trials - 1121 ps
show that chlorpromazine was associated with better overall functioning + reduced symptom severity, compared to placebo

Question 9

Healy counterpoint ao3

Answer 9

most studies are of short -term effects only - long term not known
many good trials had data published multiple times - exaggerates size of the evidence base for +ve effects
calming effects of antipsychotics is not the same as reducing the severity of psychosis

Question 10

limitation of antipyschs

Answer 10

side effects
dizziness, agititation, sleepiness, stiff jaw, weight gain + itchy skin

long term use = tardive dyskinesia, caused by dope supersensitivity - causes involuntary face movements

most serious side effect = neuroleptic malignant syndrome - drug blocks dope action in the hypothalamus area
can be fatal

Question 11

do antipsychs benefit patients or carers/ hospital staff ao3

Answer 11

antipsychs calm patients down and make them easier for staff to work with - this doesn’t actually benefit the SZ patient themselves - moncrieff 2013

yet, calming patients who are distressed by hallucinations and delusions does defo make them feel better + allows them to engage in therapy and such which can further help them
therefore antipsychs can sort of be a starter to effective treatment instead of being the full treatment itself