Biological treatments for schizophrenia

Question 1

Chlorpromazine

Answer 1

• Typical drug
• can be taken in many ways = tablets , injections and syrups
• Blocks dopamine receptors in the brain reducing the action of dopamine

Question 2

Risperidone

Answer 2

• Atypical drug
  -Can be taken in drug, syrup and injection form
  -Binds to dopamine and serotonin receptors to make them more effective

Question 3

Clozapine

Answer 3

• Atypical drug
• Can be taken in the form of tablets or liquid
• Binds to dopamine and blocks their action also improves mood and cognitive functioning

Question 4

Strengths

Answer 4

Cost effective
- reduces positive symptoms significantly
- can be used on many patients

Resedarch support - thornley
- reviewed studies comparing the effects of chlorpromazine to controls in which patients were given a placebo
- 1121 ppts showed that chlorpromazine was associated with better cognitive functioning

Research support - Meltzer
- Clozapine was effective in 30% to 50% of treatment resistant cases

Question 5

Limitations

Answer 5

Side effects
- weight fluctuations

Not all sufferers will react in the same way to antipsychotics