Biological Therapy UD - Drug Treatment

Question 1

Biological Therapy Drug Treatment UD - Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors

Answer 1

MAOI’s weaken the mechanism by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme monoamine oxidase.

Serotonin remains in synapse because it escapes degradation.

Not selective, also raises dopamine and noradrenalin.e

Question 2

Biological Therapy Drug Treatment UD - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Answer 2

SSRI’s block serotonin transporter, so it can’t be recycled and remains in the synapse.

Prolongs the effect of the AD through repeated binding with receptors on postsynaptic neuron.

Question 3

Biological Therapy Drug Treatment UD - Serotonin-noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors

Answer 3

Work similar to SSRI’s but target noradrenaline as well as serotonin, inhibiting reuptake of both neurotransmitters.

Question 4

Biological Therapy Drug Treatment UD - Noradrenergic And Specific Serotonergic Antidepressants

Answer 4

Work in two main ways: Inhibit reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline but they also block their receptors.

Question 5

Drug Treatments UD strength

Answer 5

meta-analysis shows that AD are effective.

Andrea Cipriani et al reviewed studies of 21 antidepressants. There were 522 double blind trials including 116,477 allocated participants with depression. This increases generalisability since it is a very large sample size so the results can be applied to a wider target population. All of the drugs were seen to be more effective than a placebo.

Question 6

Drug Treatments UD weakness

Answer 6

There were also wide variations found in effectiveness and other measures. Some of the most effective drugs had the worst compliance rates. Individual differences mean that not all AD are equally useful.