Biological Treatments for Schizophrenia - AO3

Question 1

What is a strength of biological treatments for schizophrenia?

Answer 1

• P: Strength = evidence to support
• E: Thornley et al. (2003): comparing effects of chlorpromazine to control group shows effectiveness of typical antipsychotics
• E: Meltzer (2012): Clozapine more effective than both typical. and other atypical antipsychotics; works in 30-50% of treatment resistant cases
• L: This shows that both typical and atypical antipsychotics are an effective treatment

Question 2

What are two limitations of biological treatments for schizophrenia?

Answer 2

• P: Limitation = side effects
• E: Typical antipsychotics associated with dizziness, agitation, fatigue, weight gain, itchy skin, tardive dyskinesia
• E: Long-term use can lead to neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) - blocks dopamine in the hypothalamus, leading to delirium, coma and even death
• L: Antipsychotics can do harm as well as good, meaning sufferers may stop taking them

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• P: Limitation = mechanism unclear
• E: Unsure how antipsychotics work; based on original dopamine hypothesis but now know low levels of dopamine also play role
• E: Antipsychotics block dopamine, thus cannot account for this; also not effective for everyone
• L: Antipsychotics may not be directly causing relief of symptomms; may be third variable

Question 3

What is a PECS for biological treatment for schizophrenia?

Answer 3

• P: Limitation = use as a “chemical cosh”
• E: Moncrieff (2013): people believe antipsychotics used just to sedate people and make them easier to manage for staff
• C: A reduction in positive symptoms allows individual patients to better engage in other treatments and services (e.g CBT)
• S: Antipsychotics should still be prescribed