Biological treatment of schizophrenia Flashcards
How does chlorpromazine work?
it is a dopamine antagonist which reduces positive symptoms by blocking post synaptic dopamine receptors by bindings to D2 receptors.
What is a weakness of the use of chlorpromazine?
40% gain no relief at all and many people still experience negative symptoms. They also have side effects causing stiff movement of face and body muscles - leading to poor compliance and so relapse.
name a typical first generation antipsychotic
chlropromazine
name an atypical second generation antipsychotic
clozapine
describe how clozapine works
blocks dopamine in same way as chlorpromazine, but in addition it acts on serotonin and glutamate receptors, blocking them and having an antagonistic effect - reducing both negative and positive symptoms
what is a side effect of clozapine
fatal blood condition agranulocytosis which has led to drug failing
strength of zhao et al
conducted meta analysis comparing 18 antipsychotics with over 10,000 people. they found that 17 of the antipsychotics had lower relapse rates than placebo pills.
strength of drug treatment for schizophrenia (Zhao et al)
it has good empirical evidence e.g. Zhao et al conducted a meta analysis comparing 18 antipsychotics with over 10,000 people. They found that 17 of the antipsychotics tested had significantly lower relapse rates than the placebos. This shows that drug treatments can be helpful, allowing people with SZ to avoid the emotional and financial costs of hospital treatments.
What is a competing argument for Zhao et al’s supporting study for the use of antipsychotics?
Krishna Patel et al found that over 45% of SZ Patients experience only partial or inadequate improvements and unacceptable side effects.
What is a weakness for biological treatment of schizophrenia? hint: animals
high doses of medication can be given to animals so that D2 receptors can be effectively blocked. Such research may demonstrate that symptoms are reduced but animal models can’t show how such side effects would interfere life. This shows that lab exp. can’t replicate living experience of taking daily medication and coping with side effects which can be a barrier to treatment.
what is a weakness of biological treatment of schizophrenia? hint: bias
there is evidence that drug research is selectively reported/publication bias towards studies that show positive outcome of antipsychotics. Drug companies have a strong interest in continuing success of psychotherapeutic drugs. This could lead doctors to make inappropriate treatment decisions that may not be in best interest of clients.
application
What is a strength of biological treatment of schizophrenia?
antipsychotics made big change to the way in which SZ patients could live their lives. Once a person was placed in a mental hospital they became institutionalised and unable to cope on their own. Drugs meant that people with SZ had a chance to remain in the community. Therefore this prevents the segregation of people with mental health problems into long-stay hospitals which induced stigmatisation through lack of contact with rest of community.
