P: Antipsychotics - Week 10 Flashcards
Is schizophrenia homogenous or heterogenous among the population?
Heterogenous. Not all schizophrenia is the same and people experience it differently
Classify schizophrenia into 5 groups based on number of episodes and level of recovery, ranking them from highest to lowest incidence
Multiple episodes, partial recovery: 28%
Chronic illness, clear deterioration: 23%
Multiple episodes, good recovery: 21%
Chronic illness, little deterioration: 20%
Single episode, good recovery: 8%
Why might drugs work for one schizophrenic patient but not another?
Because the schizophrenia can be different. Consider schizophrenia to be more like a ‘syndrome’ of disorders rather than an individual disorder
Name 4 ways we can modulate neurotransmitter function in CNS disorders (note there are others, just the one’s he mentioned though)
- modulate synthesis
- storage
- re-uptake
- receptors
What is the consequence of heavy amphetamine use? Explain (3)
Schizophrenia-like symptoms. This is evidence of the monamine theory of schizophrenia (dopamine involvement). It is though that an overabundance of dopamine NT is involved in schizophrenia, and amphetamines displace dopamine at storage centres encouraging more of it to release from nerve terminals
What incidence of the population is affected by schizophrenia? Does this differ based on culture or socioeconmic groups?
1%. No.
At what age does schizophrenia often develop?
Early age. Usually develops around the onset of puberty
Is schizophrenia generally acute or chronic?
chronic
How does having affected family members contribute to the incidence of schizophrenia development? (3)
1 affected 1st degree relative: higher
affected dizygotic twin: even higher
2 affected parents: even higher than that
If both of your parents had schizophrenic episodes, what is the likelihood you will develop it too?
about 50%
Is there an environmental aspect to the development of schizophrenia?
yes
How does the environment affect genes relating to schizophrenia?
Epigenetic mechanisms allow environmental factors to switch genes on and off and thus affect/modulate gene expression
Can recreational drug use lead to schizophrenia?
It can, but it depends on your genetic predisposition. If you are not genetically predisposed to schizophrenia it is extremely unlikely to acquire it from drugs
What proportion of schizophrenics respond well to anti-psychotic drugs?
28%
What proportion of schizophrenics respond with some/partial benefit to anti-psychotic drugs?
38%
What proportion of schizophrenics respond with little or no benefit to anti-psychotic drugs?
34%
Why might compliance be an issue with anti-psychotic drugs? (1)
Undesirable side effects such as depersonalization
What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia? (3)
Delusions (often paranoid)
Hallucinations (voices)
Disordered thought
What symptom of schizophrenia does Randy Orton suffer from?
he hears VOICES in his head they council him they understand they talk to him
(so, hallucinations)
What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia? (2)
Withdrawal from society/family
Flattened emotions