Drug Therapies

Question 1

Antipsychotic drug treatment

Answer 1

Works by reducing dopaminergic transmission
1. Typical - chlorpromazine- positive
2. Atypical- clozapine- positive & negative

Question 2

1. Typical Antipsychotics (1st generation)

Answer 2

Chlorpromazine
Block dopamine receptors
Relives positive symptoms

Problems:
60-75% of D2 receptors need to be blocked - effective
Has unwanted side effects

Question 3

2. Atypical Antipsychotics (2nd generation)

Answer 3

Clozapine
Different to typicals:
•less extrapyramidal side effects
•relieves negative symptoms
•suitable for treatment resistant patients
Bind to D2 receptors but detach quickly to allow some dopamine transmission

Problems:
Other side effects

Question 4

Evaluation of drug treatments

Answer 4

+High effectiveness
+Atypicals- no extrapyramidal side effects
+economically efficient
- can’t be used for all patients
- little evidence of Atypicals helping reduce negative symptoms