Biological Treatments For Schizophrenia

Question 1

Drug therapy for schizophrenia

Answer 1

Aim to rebalance neurotransmitters and reduce dopaminergic transmission in particular brain areas.

Question 2

Antipsychotics

Answer 2

Medications used to control psychosis such as delusions or hallucinations. They aim to reduce dopaminergic activity in specific areas of the brain,

Question 3

Typical antipsychotics (first generation)

Answer 3

a drug therapy that was used in 1950s, less used now due to side effects and only treating positive symptoms.

Question 4

Chlorpromazine (typical antipsychotic) how it works:

Answer 4

Dopamine antagonist that blocks dopamine receptors at the synapse. Bind to dopamine receptors without stimulating them. Blocking the action of the dopamine receptors in the synapse.

Question 5

Chlorpromazine: what it does:

Answer 5

Calms the dopamine system in the brain, reducing positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. Also a general sedative effect.

Question 6

Chlorpromazine side effects:

Answer 6

dry mouth, constipation, lethargy and confusion, uncontrollable muscle movements usually affecting the face.

Question 7

Atypical anti-psychotics (second generation)

Answer 7

a drug therapy that started to be used in the 1970s to avoid more severe side effects of typical antipsychotics, to treat psychosis.

Question 8

Clozapine: how it works

Answer 8

• blocks dopamine receptors but also act on other neurotransmitters e.g serotonin, glutamate.

Question 9

Clozapine: what does it do

Answer 9

These also address negative symptoms such as avolitions.

Question 10

Clozapine: what does it do

Answer 10

These also address negative symptoms such as avolitions.

Answer 11

weight gain, cardiovascular problems, less likely to cause involuntary muscle movement.

Question 12

AO3 positives

Answer 12

• concluded that clozapine is more effective than typical antipsychotics – it is effective in 30-50% of treatment- resistant cases. This shows the effectiveness of antipsychotics treatments.
• reviewed data from 13 trials (1121 participants) and found the chlorpromazine was associated with better functioning and reduced symptom severity compare with a placebo.

Question 13

AO3 : side effects

Answer 13

Side effects: typical antipsychotics are associated with dizziness, agitation, sleepiness, weight gain and in long term lip smacking, grimacing. An extreme side effect is neuroleptic malignant syndrome, caused by blocking dopamine action in the hypothalamus. Atypical anti-psychotics were developed to reduce side effects BUT some still exist (e.g weight gain, cardiovascular problems). Therefore, patients will stop using them which means that they will not be an effective treatment.

Question 14

AO3 negatives

Answer 14

• REDUCTIONIST: Motivational Deficits: Ross and Read (04) Claim that prescribing medication reinforces a biological explanation of schizophrenia, so people aren’t motivated to look for solutions to social or cognitive factors which may be contributing to their suffering.
• Antipsychotics may have been used in hospitals to calm patients and make them easier to work with, rather than to benefit the patients. This practice is seen by some, as a human rights abuse. This raise ethical issues in the use of antipsychotic drugs with schizophrenia patients.