Drug treatments for Schizophrenia Flashcards

1
Q

Wat are Antipsychotics also known as?

A

Neuroleptics

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2
Q

What do Antipsychotics do?

A

Medication used to control psychosis, such as delusions and hallucinations.

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3
Q

How are Antipsychotics taken?

A

Either in Pill form or Injection

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4
Q

What are the two types of Antipsychotic drugs which are taken?

A

Typical-Antipsychotics
Atypical Antipsychotics

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5
Q

Typical-Antipsychotics (First generation)

A

A drug therapy used since 1950’s, less popular due to severe side effects and only treats positive symptoms of Schizophrenia

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6
Q

Typical-Antipsychotics (First generation)
Provide an example?

A

Chlorpromazine

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7
Q

Typical-Antipsychotic drugs
“The drugs work as a …..”?

A

Dopamine antagonists, they reduce dopamine activity by blockading dopamine receptors at the synapse

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8
Q

What do Typical-Antipsychotic drugs do?

A

Calms the dopamine system in the brain, reducing positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions.

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9
Q

What are the side effects of Typical-Antipsychotic drugs?

A

Dry mouth
Uncontrollable muscle movement affecting the face.
Constipation

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10
Q

Atypical Anti-Psychotics (Second generation)

A

Drug therapy used to avoid the severe side effects of Typical anti-psychotics

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11
Q

Atypical Anti-Psychotics (Second generation)
Provide an example

A

Clozapine

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12
Q

Atypical Anti-Psychotics (Second generation)

A

Blocks dopamine receptors but also act on other neurotransmitters e.g:
Glutamate
Serotonin
Acetylcholine

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13
Q

Atypical Anti-Psychotics (Second generation)

A

Addresses the negative symptoms of schizophrenia such as avolition

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14
Q

What are the side effects of Atypical Anti-Psychotics ?

A

Weight gain
Cardiovascular problems
Less likely to cause involuntary movements

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15
Q

AO3 Support

A

Supporting research is provided by Leucht et al (2013) who reviewed 212 studies in a meta-analysis on the effectiveness of biological antipsychotic drug treatments that work via normalising levels of dopamine. Treatment of symptoms with the drugs were found to be much more effective than a placebo. This suggests the treatments that target the dopamine system are effective in reducing symptoms.

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16
Q

A03 Support

A

Additional research support comes from Bagnall (2003) who used 232 studies to compare the effectiveness of a range of A-typical and Typical anti-psychotics. It was found that A-typical drugs were more effective than Typical in treating overall symptoms, resulting in fewer movement disorder side effects and fewer people left the drug treatments early. Overall clozapine was found to be the most effective in reducing negative symptoms and treating people who were resistant to other drugs. This research suggest anti-psychotics are an effective treatment plan, especially those that focus on more neurotransmitters than dopamine. Also the development of A-typical drugs has improved the treatment of people with schizophrenia.

17
Q

AO3 Non-supportive

A

However research conducted by Tarrier (19988). Placed patients randomly into routine care (anti-psychotics) or routine care and CBT. Patients in the combined treatment had a significant improvement in the severity and number of positive symptoms as well as fewer days in hospital receiving care. This suggests that drug therapy alone is not the most effective treatment plan and interactionalist approach to treating schizophrenia alongside CBT is a better opinion.

18
Q

AO3 Strength, General Evaluation

A

Psychology and the economy: Drug therapies are often cheaper to prescribe rather than providing hospital treatment or psychological therapies such as CBT and family therapy

19
Q

AO3 Negative, General Evaluation

A

Drug therapies may only be suppressing symptoms and not treating the underlying problem. There is also a lack of evidence showing the long-term benefits of medication with most studies looking at short-term effects.