Biological treatment for schizophrenia- Drug therapy

Question 1

What treatment is given to sz?

Answer 1

Drug therapy- antipsychotics

Question 2

What do drugs do?

Answer 2

Help reduce symptoms

Question 3

What are typical drugs, give an example

Answer 3

Older drugs (1950s), chlorpromazine

Question 4

What are atypical drugs, give an example

Answer 4

Newer drugs (1990s) clozapine

Question 5

What does clozapine do?

Answer 5

-improve delusions and hallucinations
-good for those who don’t respond to other medication

Question 6

Side-effects of typical drugs:

Answer 6

Shakiness
Slow in thinking
Tardive dyskinesia

Question 7

Side- effects of atypical drugs:

Answer 7

Sleepiness
Weight gain
In high doses- parkinsonian side effects
Long-term use can produce movements in the face (tardive dyskinesia)

Question 8

When is clozapine suggested?

Answer 8

After at least 2 other antipsychotics have been tried

Question 9

Side effects of clozapine?

Answer 9

-drowsiness
- more Saliva
-weight gain
-can affect bone marrow

Question 10

Why do antipsychotics not always work?

Answer 10

Don’t take drugs as recommended
Forget to take them
Don’t want to take them
-stop bc of side effects
-doesn’t work for everyone

Question 11

A03- antipsychotics strengths

Answer 11

• successful in reducing psychosis
  - study found injected with antipsychotic early on has high remission and low relapse rates
  - can be prevented from returning
• supporting evidence
  - dopamine : controlled and objective treatments have been carried out
  - placebo groups used for comparison in double blind studies

Question 12

A03- antipsychotics weaknesses

Answer 12

• have side effects - unpleasant
  - 50% do not continue to take them
• research drugs have little improvements
  - Patel (10-30%) show little improvements after multiple trials of drugs, 30-60% partial improvement
  - cannot function well and majority unemployed