Methods Of Modifying Behaviour: Antipsychotic Drugs Flashcards
What are the two types of Anti-psycotics?
Conventinal and Atypical
How do conventional antipsychotics work?
The act as an antagonist meaning they block the dopamine receptors in the brain , reducing positive symptoms of Schizophrenia
What neurotransmitter has been associated with the positive symptoms of Schizophrenia?
Elevated levels of dopamine
How did Atypical drugs work?
The work as a dopamine antagonist at the receptor sites aswell as antagonist at serotonin sites
Why do Atypical drugs cause less side effects?
They block the D2 receptor sites for a shorter period of time , meaning it doesnt block them long enough to prouduce typical side effects
Evaluate the effectiveness of conventional antipsychotics
Research shows that 75% of SCZ patients who were given a conventional Antipsychotic were considered ‘much improved’
48 % of those given a plecbo got worse , this was groundbreaking research for the effectiveness of drug therapy
Why is the comparison between conventional and atypical significant? (Evaulation)
Research found that atypical drugs had far fewer advesrse side effects and were improved psychometric scores more than conventional drugs did
However some people do react better to conventional
Why is it hard to assess the effectiveness of antipsychotics? (Evaulation)
One issue is non-complience , meaning in the real world , its far easier for participants to stop taking the drugs
Research shows a 54.2 % drug compliance rate , suggests trials can’t reflect real life
Why are the side effects of antipsycotics significant? (ethical implications)
Both types of drugs can cause signficant side effects they may stop taking drugs if they feel better - Revolving door syndrome
What is the agrument about the use of antipsychotics being like chemical staight jackets?
The antipschiatary movement argues that drugs are used to keep scz people ‘quiet and undercontrol’ and was simply ‘a way of excluding non-comformists from society”
What effect do antipsychotics have on the existence of asylums? (Social implcations)
They are becoming less and less needed as scz patients are instituationalised for far shorter periods of time , this saves the goverment money
What is the risk of violence associated with antipsychotics? (Social implications)
It is suggested that scz who don’t follow up on their drug therapy may pose a threat to themselves and others
Out of the 346 homicides by scz people, 29% had shown non compliance with their drugs
