Drug Therapy
- Created by: Ella J Lister
- Created on: 20-11-22 16:31
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- Drug Therapy
- Principles
- Antipsychotic Drugs
- Treats schizophrenia
- Conventional
- Block the action of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain by binding to dopamine receptors
- Combats the psoitive symptoms of schizophrenia (eg, delusions, hallucinations)
- Side effect: tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movements of mouth and tongue)
- Atypical
- eg. Clozaril
- Temporarily occupy dopamine receptors, and then rapidly dissociating to allow normal dopamine transmission
- Lower levels of side effects
- Antidepressant Drugs
- Low serotonin levels cause depression
- Reduce the rate of reabsorption or by blocking the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitters
- Most common: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac
- Block the transporter mechanism that reabsorbs serotonin into the presynaptic cell
- Antianxiety Drugs
- Benzodiazepines (BZs) slow down activity of central nervous system by enhancing the biochemical substance GABA
- Beta-blockers (BBs) reduce the activity of adrenaline and noradrenaline. They bind to receptors on the cell of the heart which slows heat rate
- Antipsychotic Drugs
- Evaluation: Effectiveness
- Drugs vs Placebo
- Soomro et al (2008) reviewed 17 studies of the use of SSRIs with OCD and found them to be more effective than the placebo in reducing its symptoms
- Koran et al (2007) says evaluation of treatment is only three to four months long and therefore little long-term data exists
- Side effects
- Nausea, headache and insomnia are common side effects of SSRIs (Soomro et al 2008)
- Symptoms not cause
- Drugs may be effective in treating the symptoms of psychological disorders, this type of therapy does not address the underlying cause
- 'Revolving door syndrome' - a patient is back and forth to their doctor as their disorder is never really cured
- Comparison with other treatments
- Drug therapy is a cheaper alternative than other therapies
- Drugs vs Placebo
- Evaluation: Ethics
- Use of placebos
- No patient should be given a treatment known to be inferior
- Patient information
- Medical professionals may withhold some information about the drugs
- Patients might not be in the right frame of mind to understand the potential side effects
- Use of placebos
- Principles
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