drug treatment for schizophrenia Flashcards
what is drug therapy based on?
the idea that schizophrenia is caused by an imbalance of chemicals such as nt
what do drugs aim to do?
restore the balance of the chemicals in the brain
eg reducing nt to normal levels
what does an imbalance in chemicals result in?
changes in mood and behaviour
when are drugs offered and why?
as first line treatment due to the fact that they can help reduce symptoms that prevent patients from accessing other psychological therapies
how do antipsychotic drugs work?
by blocking the receptors that absorb dopamine reducing the action of dopamine
which receptors do AD act on normally?
D2 receptors
positive symptoms
what are the types of AD?
typical (older)
atypical (newer)
what is an example of a typical drug?
chlorpromazine
what is an example of an atypical drug?
clozopine
what does clozapine do?
seems to reduce hallucinations and delusions and also seems to work on patients who do not respon to other drugs
why are there reduced side effects in atypical drugs?
they do not bind to receptors quite so tightly
also block serotonin receptors
what are seretonon receptors called?
5HT2A
what are side effects of typical drugs?
stiffness and shakiness (parkinsons) sluggish pros with sex life breat swelling feel dizzy as affect blood pressure
what are side effects of atypical drugs?
weight gain
sleepiness
interference with sex life
if atypical drugs are taken long term what can it cause>
movements of the face and arms
compared to older drugs. newer ones seem to…
- reduce chance of parkinson side effects
- more likely to have weight gain
- diabetes
which drug reduces suicidal feelings?
clozapine
what doesn’t clozapine create?
movements of face
skakiness
what is the main drawback of clozapine?
it can affect bone marrow leading to a shortage of white blood cells
if bone marrow is affected what happens?
the drug is stopped immediately
if you take clozapine what do you have to do?
go for blood tests for six months and every two weeks after that
what there side effects does clozapine have?
makes epileptic fits more likely
over salivation
constipation
due to the side effects of clozapine when is it taken?
usually after at least two other AD have been tried
what form can AD take?
pill or injection
how long do people normally take the drugs?
1-2 years on order to stop future symptoms
stop taking drug too soon the symptoms may reoccur
how many people don’t take their drugs?
nearly half as don’t ike taking them or forget
what % of people do not get better with drugs?
25
what is used to decide which drug needs to be taken?
the clients history and previous medication
should you be offered two drugs at same time?
not anymore according to NICE
except if take clozapine and have no reaction then other drugs should be trialled at same time
strength of treatments in terms of use with other?
May be used in conjunction with other psychological therapies and treatments, which the patients may not have been able to benefit from without the drug treatments.
what is a weakness with curation?
Patients must take maintenance doses of medication for life in order to keep symptoms under control; drugs cannot cure the condition.
weakness of willingness?
may not e willing to take medication
rosenham found that 50% of observed patients hid medication
what did emsely find?
that those injected with antipsychotics risperodone showed high remission rates and low relapse rates
ethics?
power in clinician
injection invasive
side effects
weakness with causation?
it might be that schizophrenia is due to cognitive
or that dopamine is caused by schiz
