Pharmacology for Psychosis Flashcards
Was there any treatment for psychosis before the 1930’s
Before the 1930’s there were no effective treatments for any of the so-called ‘functional psychosis’
What was the main function of psychiatric hospitals
The main function of psychiatric hospitals were to keep patients at tolerable health and comfort
What were nurses called
Nurses at the time were called attendants, they did not have a clinical role and only followed doctors orders
Who developed Insulin Therapy
Sakel developed insulin therapy in 1927
What is Insulin Therapy and when was it used
Insulin Therapy involves administering insulin to induce a coma, this was widely used in the 1940’s and 1960’s
Who developed the lobotomy
The Lobotomy was pioneered by Moniz between 1874-1955
What was believed about patients who were experiencing psychosis
It was believed that people experiencing psychosis had abnormal neural connections in their frontal lobes
What happened during a lobotomy
The frontal lobes of the patients were then cut or severed, this left people with severe and disabling impairments
What reductions were seen in patients after a lobotomy
Reductions were seen in responsiveness, self-awareness, control and sponaenity.
Where is the Electroconvulsive therapy suite in the mid-west
UHL has the only ECT suite in the mid-west region
What does ECT involve
ECT involves a brief electrical impulse being sent into the brain while the patient is under anaesthetic to stimulate a seizure
What is ECT used for
ECT is used for mania and depression but can also be used for catatonia
What was the first antipsychotic
Chlorpromazine was the first antipsychotic developed
Where was chlorpromazine developed
Chlorpromazine was founded in a laboratory when searching for antihistamines
Who used chlorpromazine first and for what and what did he find
Henri Loborit used chlorpromazine as part of a sedative cocktail for surgical patients but found it did not work the same as other sedatives as the patients were still functional
Why is Chlorpromazine used and since when
Since the 1950’s it has been used for its benefits in controlling manic and psychotic episodes
What reductions were seen with other treatments when chlorpromazine was introduced
Reductions were seen in the use of insulin therapy and lobotomy procedures
Positive symptoms
Hallucinations, delusions and psychosis
Negative symptoms
Social withdrawal, blunted affect and emotional withdrawal
Cognitive changes
Core features related to attention, language, memory, interactions and decision making
The meaning behind antipsychotics
Antipsychotic aka neuroleptics. Neuro (Greek) - nerves and leptos (Greek) - to take hold of. Essentially meaning to take hold of ones nerves
Main function of antipsychotics
Sedative - major tranquilliser
What are antipsychotics typically used to treat
Treatment of psychosis, schizophrenia, hypomania, and mania but also used for catatonia, agitation, behavioural problems, personality disorders and confusion
