Evaluations For Biological Treatments For Schizophrenia

Question 1

evaluations

Answer 1

• there’s evidence for effectiveness
• there’s problems with evidence for effectiveness
• ignores psychological factors
• side effects
• ethics may not have been considered

Question 2

evidence for effectiveness

Answer 2

• Thornley et Al reviewed studies comparing the effects of chlorpromazine to the control conditions where patients received a placebo of the drug
• data from 13 trials of 1121 participants shown that chlorpromazine was better for overall function
• shows the drug reduces symptoms
• but it doesn’t tell us how it can be cured just how to reduce symptoms
  limitation
  can be difficult for patients to deal with long term drug treatment

Question 3

problems with evidence for effectiveness ( put with the evidence for effectiveness)

Answer 3

• healy suggested that successful trials such as Thornley have had their data published multiple times, exaggerating their data
• also suggested that because antipsychotics have a calming effect it isn’t the same as saying it reduces the severity of psychosis
  limitation
  drug treatment isn’t as good as once thought and it just waters down the symptoms not curing the disorder

Question 4

ignores psychological factors

Answer 4

• many sufferers who have drug treatment have relapse due to their environment not being changed
• for example households with high EE
• the diathesis stress model shows that even with high amount of drug treatment a person will still have the disorder if the environment is stressful
• shows interaction between nature and nurture
  -suggests a need for an interactionist approach to schiz
  limitation
  suggests drug treatment is only partly effective and is not the sole cause of SCHIZ

Question 5

side effects

Answer 5

• typical antipsychotics side effects range from dizziness to a major long term disorder called dyskinesia which is irreversible for 75% of sufferers
• atypical drugs have fewer aide effects but in the past clozapine caused agranulocytosis ( blood condition) that resulted in death
• is it actually benefiting the person who is ill , may not be appropriate
  limitation
  even if symptoms are reduced it isn’t appropriate for people’s quality of life

Question 6

ethics may not have been considered

Answer 6

• many antipsychotics have a sedative effect which is good for reducing distress but not for the patient
• many are unable to do anything because they are in a state of near unconsciousness
• mean can’t take part in psychological therapy and can’t give consent as they are not in a right frame of mind ( usually others will make decisions)
• questions whether it is appropriate to control the symptoms in this way
  limitation
  may not actually benefit the sufferer but others instead