treatment - drug therapy

Question 1

what are antipsyhcotics?

Answer 1

drugs used to reduce the intensity of symptoms particularly the positive symptoms of psychotic conditions like schizophrenia

Question 2

what are typical antipsychotics?

Answer 2

1st gen of antipsychotic drugs used since 1950s. work as dopamine antagonists and include chlorpromazine

Question 3

what are atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 3

developed after, target a range of neurotransmitters such a dopamine and serotonin e.g. clozapine and risperidone

Question 4

typical antipsychotic example - chlorpromazine
- form of medicine
- dosage
- how it works
- side effects

Answer 4

• can be taken as tablets or liquid
• dosage - 1000mg
• blocks dopamine receptors, initially dopamine levels build up, overtime levels in the brain reduce, which helps with positive symptoms like hallucinations and delusions
• side effects include: dizziness, agitation, shuffling walk, tardive dyskinesia

Question 5

atypical antiosychotic - clozapine

Answer 5

• comes as a tablet or liquid
• typically 300-450mg a day
• blocker of d2 receptors, helping to relieve symptoms of hallucinations, delusions
• side effects include:
  blurred vision, confusion, constipation, dizziness

Question 6

what is tardive dyskinesia?

Answer 6

• cant control movements - lip smacking, finger tapping etc.
• caused by dopamine receptor super sensitivity which means increase of dopamine receptors
• high doses of medication = more risk

Question 7

evaluation 1 - supporting evidence

Answer 7

• leucht et al - meta-analysis 6000 participants - all given antipsychotics, but some were taken off and given a placebo instead. after 12 months, 64% placebo relapsed, 27% antipsychotic drug

Question 8

evaluation 2 - quality of life

Answer 8

antipsychotics enhance quality of life - allow them to live outside of institutional care
also enhances quality of life for family members

Question 9

evaluation 3 - conflicting evidence

Answer 9

healy - successful trials of effectiveness have had data published multiple times, exaggerating the evidence for positive effects
as they have a calming effect its easy to demonstarte that they have some positive effects in patients

Question 10

evaluation 4 - ethical issues

Answer 10

• lots of side effects e.g. dizziness, weight gain, agitation, and long term use can cause tardive dyskinesia
  atypical do have fewer side effects but still have some
  may not be appropriate for all patients
• if side effects, deaths and psychological consequences were taken into account, a cost benefit analysis would probably be negative