Drug treatments for Schizophrenia

Question 1

Wat are Antipsychotics also known as?

Answer 1

Neuroleptics

Question 2

What do Antipsychotics do?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

How are Antipsychotics taken?

Answer 3

Either in Pill form or Injection

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Typical-Antipsychotics
Atypical Antipsychotics

Question 5

Typical-Antipsychotics (First generation)

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Typical-Antipsychotics (First generation)
Provide an example?

Answer 6

Chlorpromazine

Question 7

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

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What do Typical-Antipsychotic drugs do?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What are the side effects of Typical-Antipsychotic drugs?

Answer 9

Dry mouth
Uncontrollable muscle movement affecting the face.
Constipation

Question 10

Atypical Anti-Psychotics (Second generation)

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Atypical Anti-Psychotics (Second generation)
Provide an example

Answer 11

Clozapine

Question 12

Atypical Anti-Psychotics (Second generation)

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Atypical Anti-Psychotics (Second generation)

Answer 13

Addresses the negative symptoms of schizophrenia such as avolition

Question 14

What are the side effects of Atypical Anti-Psychotics ?

Answer 14

Weight gain
Cardiovascular problems
Less likely to cause involuntary movements

Question 15

AO3 Support

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

A03 Support

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

AO3 Non-supportive

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

AO3 Strength, General Evaluation

Answer 18

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

Question 19

AO3 Negative, General Evaluation

Answer 19

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.