schizophrenia

Question 1

define schizophrenia

Answer 1

disorder of abnormal thought, perception, behaviour, mood, and attention

Question 2

describe the symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 2

positive

• delusions
• auditory hallucinations

negative

- withdrawal
- flattened mood

Question 3

biochemical theories associated with schizophrenia

Answer 3

overactivity of dopamine systems in the cortical system

a decrease in glutamate also causes schizophrenia symptoms

Question 4

to obtain a full therapeutic effect of antipsychotic drugs how long is chronic use required for

Answer 4

2-3 weeks

Question 5

name the typical antipsychotic drugs

Answer 5

chlorpromazine

haloperidol

Question 6

name the atypical antipsychotic drugs

Answer 6

clozapine

Question 7

chlorpromazine

Answer 7

• dopamine antagonist
• related to tricyclic antidepressants
• mainly work on positive symptoms
• side effects: antimuscarinic (dried secretions)

Question 8

haloperidol

Answer 8

• dopamine antagonist

- mainly work on positive symptoms

Question 9

clozapine

Answer 9

• effective against both positive and negative symptoms

- side effects: agranulocytosis (WBC disorder causing a decrease in the number of circulating neutrophils)

Question 10

briefly explain each dopamine receptor

Answer 10

D1 receptors = increase cAMP (high in striatum)

D2 = decrease cAMP (high in striatum)

D3 = decrease cAMP (high in limbic system)

D4 = decrease cAMP (high in limbic and cortex, low in striatum)

Question 11

chlorpromazine & haloperidol VS clozapine

Answer 11

chlorpromazine & haloperidol

• have equal affinity for D2 and D4 receptors
• show extrapyramidal side effects e.g. dyskinesia and parkinsonian symptoms (motor effects)

clozapine

- 10-fold greater affinity for D4 than D2 
- does not cause any extrapyramidal effects, maybe due to low D2 affinity