schizophrenia Flashcards
what is the biological therapy for schizophrenia?
drug therapy
drug therapy involves?
antipsychotic drugs
what are the 2 types of antipsychotic drugs?
typical and atypical
what are typical antipsychotics?
these were the first generation of drugs for schizophrenia, made before atypical antipsychotics, they work as dopamine antagonists and include chlorpromazine.
describe typical antipsychotics….
have been around since 1950s and an example of one is chlorpromazine which can be taken as tablets, syrup or by injection. if taken orally it is administered up to 100mg daily.
how do typical antipsychotics work? e.g. chlorpromazine
chlorpromazine work by acting as antagonists in the dopamine system. antagonists are chemicals which reduce the action of a neurotransmitter.
dopamine antagonists work by blocking dopamine receptors in the synapses of the brain, which reduces the action of dopamine.
what is the sedation effect?
chlorpromazine has many antipsycotic properties as well as being an effective sedative. believed to be related to its effect on histamine receptors. is often used to calm people.
syrup is absorbed faster then tablets.
describe atypical antipsychotics?…
these are drugs for schizophrenia which were developed after typical antipsychotics. they normally target a range of neurotransmitters such as dopamine.
what’s an example of an atypical antipsychotic?
clozapine - binds to dopamine receptors, it acts on serotonin and glutamate receptors.
evaluation for biological therapy of schizophrenia (drug therapy)?
strength - evidence to support their effectiveness
- there is evidence to support that both typical and atypical antipsychotics are both effective in tackling the symptoms of schizophrenia. ben thoerxnley proved this by comparing the side effects of chlorpromazine to control conditions.
limitation - serious side effects
- typical antipsychotics are associated with a range of side effects including dizziness, agitation and sleep problems and weight issues.
long term use of typical antipsychotics can result in tardive dyskinesia which is caused by dopamine super sensitivity and causes involuntary facial movements.
describe a psychological therapy for schizophrenia? (CBT OR FAMILY THERAPY)
CBT - is a method for treating mental disorders such as schizophrenia, it is based on cognitive and behavioural techniques. the therapy aims to deal with thinking such as challanging negative thoughts.
- can help a client make sense of their irrational cognitions such as delusions and hallucinations.
- usually takes 5-20 sessions either in groups or individually.
FAMILY THERAPY - is a psychological therapy which is carried out with all or some members of a family with the goal of improving the communication within the family and trying to reduce the stress between the family.
there are a few approaches for family therapy such as the double blind theory and the schizphrenogenic mother.
how does family therapy help?
reduces negative emotions
- aims to reduce levels of expressed emotion, - can reduce relapse.
improves the families ability to help
- aim to improve families beliefs towards the mental illness such as SZ, to also ensure that family members achieve a balance between caring for the SZ person and maintaining their own lives.
evaluation of CBT as a psychological therapy for SZ?
strength - one strength of CBT for SZ is the evidence for its effectiveness. research and clinical experience support the benefits of CBT for SZ
limitation - the wide range of techniques and symptoms included in studies. CBT techniques and SZ symptoms vary widely from one case to another. this makes it hard to say how effective CBT will be for a particular person with SZ.
evaluation for family therapy as a psychological therapy for SZ?
strength - benefits for the whole family.
