Schizophrenia drug therapies

Question 1

Hamburger,strength, effectiveness

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE FOR ANTIPSYCHOTICS

Answer 1

• There is evidence to support the idea that antipsychotics are effective in tacking the symptoms of schizophrenia.
• Thornley et al (2003) reviewed studies comparing the effects of Chlorpromazine to control conditions in which patients received a placebo.
• Data from 13 trials, with 1121 patients, showed that Chlorpromazine was associated with better overall functioning and reduced symptom severity. Data from 3 trials, with 512 patients, showed that relapse rates were also lower when Chlorpromazine was taken.
• This suggests that drug therapies can help to manage schizophrenia and are therefore effective

Question 2

Double whopper, limitation, appropriateness

SIDE EFFECTS

Answer 2

• A problem with antipsychotics is the likelihood of side effects.
• Typical antipsychotics are associated with a range of side effects including dizziness, agitation, sleeplessness and tardive dyskinesia. This means that although they may be effective in reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia, they may not be appropriate as some would argue they are not improving the everyday life of sufferers; in some cases, they may actually be making the individuals worse.
• This reduces the appropriateness of the treatment.

Question 3

Hamburger, limitation,effectiveness

CONTRACTING EVIDENCE FOR DOPAMINE HYPOTHESIS

Answer 3

• The use of antipsychotics as a therapy for schizophrenia is based on the premise that too much dopamine is responsible for the symptoms of schizophrenia
• . We now know that too little dopamine in some areas of the brain may be responsible for schizophrenia symptoms.
• This has undermined the faith that some people have in antipsychotics because we are using them based on a theory which has now got evidence to contradict it.

Question 4

Hamburger, limitation, cost-effectiveness

CHEAP AND HELP STATE

Answer 4

• Drug therapies are a practical treatment for schizophrenia.
• They are cost effective, as they are cheap to produce in comparison to CBT, and some would argue that they are required by patients so that they are then able to be in a state of mind to access psychological treatments.
• This suggests that drug therapy has its place in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Question 5

Double-whopper, limitation, appropriateness

MISUSE POSSIBLE

Answer 5

• Some people question the ethics that are involved in drug therapy.
• It is known that drugs do not cure schizophrenia, they simply help to manage the symptoms. It is believed that antipsychotics have been used in hospitals to calm patients and make them easier to deal with, rather than because they benefit the patients.
• This is clearly a limitation of drug therapy if they are being used inappropriately and not in a way that is improving the life of the sufferer.