Schizophrenia - Biological Treatments (Drug Therapy)

Question 1

What are antipsychotics?

Answer 1

Drugs used to reduce the intensity of symptoms (particularly positive) of psychotic conditions

Question 2

What are typical antipsychotics?

Answer 2

1st gen of antipsychotic drugs having been used since 1950s

Question 3

How is the dopamine hypothesis and typical antipsychotics linked?

Answer 3

They work by acting as antagonists in the dopamine system -> block dopamine receptors in synapses

Question 4

What is an example of a typical antipsychotic?

Answer 4

Chloropramazine

Question 5

How does chloropramazine work according to the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 5

The dopamine antagonist effect normalises neurotranmission in key areas of the brain -> reduces positive symptoms

Can also have sedative effect

Question 6

What are atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 6

Drugs for schizophrenia developed after typical antipsychotics which target a range of neurotransmitters e.g dopamine & serotonin

Question 7

What are 2 examples of atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 7

Clozapine & Risperidone

Question 8

How does Clozapine work?

Answer 8

Binds to dopamine receptors but acts of serotonin & glutamate receptors -> helps improve mood & reduce depression & anxiety (usually prescribed if someone is at high risk of suicide)

Question 9

How does Risperidone work?

Answer 9

Binds to dopamine & serotonin receptors (more strongly to dopamine then clozapine -> more effective) -> evidence that it leads to fewer side effects

Question 10

EVALUATION: What is a strength of drug therapies?

Answer 10

Evidence for effectiveness -> Thornley et al -> found chorlopramazine improved overall functioning & symptom severity taken from data from 13 trials (1121 participants), also found it lowered relapse rates (data taken from 3 trials (512 participants)

Meltzer -> concluded clozapine is more effective in 30-50& of treatment-resistant cases than other typical/atypical antipsychotics (Risperidone = inconclusive -> however they’re generally effective)

Question 11

EVALUATION: What is the issue with serious side effects for drug therapies?

Answer 11

can cause mild (dizziness) to fatal (neuroleptic malignant syndrome -> causes high temp, delirium & coma) side effects

Atypical developed to reduce frequency of side effects however ppl taking clozapine have to have regular blood tests to check for early side of agranulocytosis

Question 12

EVALUATION: What is a theoretical issue with the use of drug therapies to treat schizophrenia?

Answer 12

Our understanding of antipsychotic drugs is ties with the dopamine hypothesis -> evidence shows it isnt a complete explanation & some regions of sub cortex can have too low levels of -> not clear how they work

Question 13

EVALUATION: What are the problems with the evidence of the effectiveness of drug therapies to treat SZ?

Answer 13

Healy -> suggested sucessful trials have had data published multiple times exaggerating evidence of positive effects -> also suggests due to calming effect of the drugs it is easy to demonstrate that they will have some positive effect of SZ patients (not the same as reducing severity of psychosis)

Most studies show short term benefit rather than long term -> compare people who continue to take the drug with those experiencing withdrawal

Question 14

EVALUATION: What is the chemical cosh argument about the use of drug therapies to treat SZ?

Answer 14

Hospitals may use drug therapies to calm ppl (makes it easier for staff) -> although short term use to calm agitated people is recommended by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) some see it as human rights abuse