Schizophrenia being treated by Biological Therapy

Question 1

what does the biological approach to treating schizophrenia involve?

Answer 1

drug therapy

Question 2

what is treatment based off?

Answer 2

the dopamine hypothesis

Question 3

what is the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 3

schizophrenia is linked to increased dopamine activity in the brain

Question 4

how do antipsychotic drugs work?

Answer 4

by blocking dopamine receptors

Question 5

what are the names of antipsychotic drugs?

Answer 5

typical and atypical

Question 6

when were typical antipsychotic drugs developed?

Answer 6

1950s

Question 7

are typical antipsychotic drugs still used today?

Answer 7

yes although they aren’t used as much because of their side effects

Question 8

what symptoms to typical antipsychotics treat?

Answer 8

positive symptoms

Question 9

side effects of typical drugs

Answer 9

• dry mouth
• blurred vision
• dizziness
• muscle spasms
• cramps
• tremors

Question 10

what do typical antipsychotics work on?

Answer 10

dopamine receptors

Question 11

what do atypical antipsychotics work on?

Answer 11

serotonin and dopamine receptors

Question 12

what are people prescribed today?

Answer 12

atypical antipsychotics

Question 13

when were atypical antipsychotics produced?

Answer 13

1950s

Question 14

when were atypical antipsychotics introduced?

Answer 14

1970s

Question 15

what do atypical antipsychotic treat?

Answer 15

positive and negative symptoms

Question 16

advantage: drug therapy is more effective on…

Answer 16

positive symptoms

Question 17

advantage: drug therapy is…

Answer 17

incredibly successful

Question 18

advantage: if people are on a drug therapy programme…

Answer 18

they can live in the community instead of an institution

Question 19

advantage: antipsychotic drugs are…

Answer 19

the most used form of treatment for schizophrenics

Question 20

disadvantage: drug therapy isn’t effective at…

Answer 20

treating negative symptoms

Question 21

disadvantage: what ethical issues are there?

Answer 21

drug therapy is a “chemical straitjacket”

it doesn’t actually help the patient

Question 22

disadvantage: people say that drugs don’t help the patient…

Answer 22

it just controls their behaviour so it’s more socially acceptable and easier to manage

Question 23

disadvantages: most people suffer from…

Answer 23

short term side effects

Question 24

disadvantages: long term side effects include

Answer 24

• the risk of diabetes

- tardive dyskinesia

Question 25

tardive dyskinesia

Answer 25

involuntary repetitive movements that continue even after they’ve stopped taking the medication

Question 26

disadvantage: what did clinical trials show?

Answer 26

two thirds stopped taking the antipsychotics because of the side effects