Drugs Therapies for SZ
- Created by: 0045253
- Created on: 11-06-22 13:05
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- Drug Therapies
- based on the dopamine hypothesis, which assumes that dopamine activity is linked to schizophrenia
- Typical Antipsychotic Drugs
- Dopamine agonists, bind to D2 dopamine receptors blocking the stimulation of these receptors so they cannot absorb the dopamine.
- Treats positive symptoms; hallucinations.
- STRENGTH
- P - Evidence to support the effectiveness.
- E - Julien
(2005) found they treat positive symptoms for
70% of people with SZ and decrease the average length of time a person is
hospitalised.
- L - This shows that typical APs are effective.
- E - Julien
(2005) found they treat positive symptoms for
70% of people with SZ and decrease the average length of time a person is
hospitalised.
- P - Evidence to support the effectiveness.
- WEAKNESS
- P - They have side effects
- E - Side effects include dry mouth, constipation, lethargy.
- E - 20-25%
of sufferers will have side effects that involved disordered motor movements
like tremors or Tardive
Dyskinesia (involuntary tics)
- L - This means 50% of sufferers stop taking the drugs within the first year.
- E - 20-25%
of sufferers will have side effects that involved disordered motor movements
like tremors or Tardive
Dyskinesia (involuntary tics)
- E - Side effects include dry mouth, constipation, lethargy.
- P - They have side effects
- Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs
- Treats
positive and negative (avolition) symptoms
- Increases patient mood, reduces depression/ anxiety to improve cognitive functioning.
- they
bind only temporarily to the D2 dopamine receptors – then rapidly dissociate
allowing for normal dopamine transmission
- Blocks serotonin receptors – serotonin regulates dopamine levels
- STRENGTH
- P - There's evidence to support the effectiveness.
- E - Meltzer
(2012) concluded that Clozapine is more
effective at reducing both positive and negative symptoms than typical APs.
- E - Patients
showed an improvement in their symptoms (even in the 30-50% treatment resistant
cases where typical APs failed).
- L - This shows that atypical APs are effective.
- E - Patients
showed an improvement in their symptoms (even in the 30-50% treatment resistant
cases where typical APs failed).
- E - Meltzer
(2012) concluded that Clozapine is more
effective at reducing both positive and negative symptoms than typical APs.
- P - There's evidence to support the effectiveness.
- WEAKNESS
- P - They can have serious side effects.
- E - A major problem with some atypical drugs is that some can cause agranulocytosis - extreme lowering of white blood cell
count and high risk of serious infections.
- E - Patients
need to have their blood monitored monthly.
- L - This can be a problem as their symptoms may interfere with their ability to make this commitment, which means ATAP are not always appropriate.
- E - Patients
need to have their blood monitored monthly.
- E - A major problem with some atypical drugs is that some can cause agranulocytosis - extreme lowering of white blood cell
count and high risk of serious infections.
- P - They can have serious side effects.
- Treats
positive and negative (avolition) symptoms
- STRENGTH
- P - There are economic implications.
- E - Cheaper
than psychological therapy. as they require the patient to take a tablet rather than having regular therapy appointments.
- E - They reduce the chance of relapse and symptoms of SZ so reduce
likelihood of patients being hospitalised
- L - This means that biological treatments for SZ have a positive impact on the economy.
- E - They reduce the chance of relapse and symptoms of SZ so reduce
likelihood of patients being hospitalised
- E - Cheaper
than psychological therapy. as they require the patient to take a tablet rather than having regular therapy appointments.
- P - There are economic implications.
- WEAKNESS
- P - Do
not treat the underlying cause
- E - Many psychologists state that drugs simply Suppress symptoms of SZ due to the sedative nature of the medication
- E - Mnay of the studies into effectiveness of drugs therapies focus on short-term effects only and should focus on assessing long-benefits to the medication.
- L - This means any reduction symptoms of SZ may return when medication is stopped.
- E - Mnay of the studies into effectiveness of drugs therapies focus on short-term effects only and should focus on assessing long-benefits to the medication.
- E - Many psychologists state that drugs simply Suppress symptoms of SZ due to the sedative nature of the medication
- P - Do
not treat the underlying cause
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