Biological Treatment - Anti-psychotics Flashcards
1
Q
what was the first anti-psychotic (a.p.) ?
A
Chlorpromazine
2
Q
what type of drug is chlorpromazine and how does it work ?
A
- typical drug
- dopamine antagonist drug
- greatly reduces positive symptoms by blocking postsynaptic dopamine receptors without activating them.
3
Q
what is the main receptor implicated in schizophrenia ?
A
D2
4
Q
what percentage of people gain no relief from typical drugs ?
A
40% - many still experience negative symptoms (Barlow and Durand 1995).
5
Q
what is a side effect of typical drugs ?
A
tardive dyskinesia (stiff or slow, writhing movements in body you can’t control) - causes poor compliance and subsequent relapse.
6
Q
what does clozapine do ?
A
- blocks dopamine by blocking postsynaptic dopamine receptors
- additionally acts on serotonin and glutamate receptors
- antagonist effect
- reduces negative and positive symptoms
7
Q
what is a potential side effect of clozapine ?
A
- agranulocytosis - potentially fatal blood condition
- fallen out of favour but still used on treatment resistant patients, providing 60% relief for such people (rally and macabre 2015)
- patients have regular blood tests
8
Q
what is risperidone ?
A
- most recently developed
- believed to bind to serotonin as well as dopamine
- binds more strongly to dopamine receptors than clozapine
- effective in much smaller doses than most a.p.s
9
Q
what things disrupt the effectiveness of a.p.s ?
A
- amphetamines
- alcohol
- caffeine
- nicotine
