Biological Treatments

Question 1

What forms can antipsychotic drugs be taken in?

Answer 1

Syrup or tablet

Question 2

Origin of typical antipsychotic drugs?

Answer 2

1950s

Question 3

Example of typical?

Answer 3

Chlorpromazine

Question 4

Daily dose of typical?

Answer 4

Can be as much as 1000mg per day

Question 5

Liu and Hann?

Answer 5

Typically dosages have declined over last 50 years

Question 6

Role of chlorpromazine?

Answer 6

Works as an antagonist to dopamine- chemicals that reduce the action of a neurotransmitter- block dopamine receptor in synapse of brain reducing action and normalising neurotransmission

Question 7

Levels of dopamine when taking typical?

Answer 7

Initially increases but then reduces

Question 8

What symptoms do typical drugs usually tackle?

Answer 8

Positive such as hallucinations

Question 9

What is chlorpromazine usually used for?

Answer 9

To calm patients when they enter hospital for the first time- syrup is usually form and works faster

Question 10

Origin of atypical?

Answer 10

1970s

Question 11

Aim of atypical?

Answer 11

They would be more effective drugs that minimised side effects

Question 12

Example of atypical?

Answer 12

Clozapine

Question 13

Issue with Clozapine?

Answer 13

Had to be withdrawn in the 70s because of deaths of people with a blood condition- by the 80s it was reintroduced but only as a treatment that would be used if all others failed

Question 14

What must people who take clozapine do?

Answer 14

Have regular blood tests

Question 15

How is clozapine administered?

Answer 15

Cannot be injected due to deadly side effects

Dosage= 300-450mg

Question 16

How does clozapine work?

Answer 16

Binds to dopamine but in addition acts on serotonin and glutamate receptors- its action improves mood and reduces depression/anxiety

Question 17

What sort of patients might clozapine be prescribed too?

Answer 17

Suicidal- 30-50% attempt suicide

Question 18

What is risperidone?

Answer 18

Was developed as a safer option to clozapine and can be taken as a tablet/syrup or injection that lasts 2 weeks- start with small amount 8mg and max is 12mg

Question 19

Action of dopamine?

Answer 19

Binds more strongly to dopamine so is much more effective in smaller dosages

Question 20

Thornley et al?

Answer 20

Studies effects of chlorpromazine in a placebo based trial- 13 trials- over 1000 participants demonstrated that CH was associated with better overall functioning and reduced symptom severity

Question 21

Further result of Thornley?

Answer 21

From 3 trials of 512 participants - relapse rates= reduced when chlorpromazine was taken

Question 22

Meltzer?

Answer 22

Concluded that clozapine was more effective than typical and other atypical drugs- argument that different patients react differently to different drugs

Question 23

Side effects of typical drugs?

Answer 23

Dizziness, sleepiness, stiff jaw and weight gain

Tardive dyskinesia - caused by dopamine sensitivity - grimacing, lip smacking and blinking

Question 24

What is Neuroleptic Malignant syndrome?

Answer 24

A typical drug symptom which causes dopamine blocking action in the hypothalamus
High temp, delirium and can be fatal

Question 25

Healy?

Answer 25

Suggests that some positive trials have had their results published numerous times which exaggerates the extent of their effectiveness

Question 26

Problem with studies?

Answer 26

They usual only assess short term effects

They compare people on medication to people who have only just stopped taking theirs

Question 27

Chemical cosh argument?

Answer 27

Some have claimed that hospitals only attempt to calm patients down so that they are easier to work with for the staff- this is abuse of human rights