Biological Approach - Therapy

Therapy: Chemotherapy

 Chemotherapy is the name used to describe the use of psychoactive drugs to treat mental disorders.

Link - The biological approach believes that one cause of mental illness is chemical imbalances in the body. Chemotherapy worls by addressing this imbalance. 

Example 1: Schizophrinia

• Patients have too much dopamine in the brain (Dopamine Hypothosis)
• "Anti-psychotics" reduce the effects of dopamine by blocking its transmission from one neuron to the next. 
• Two of the most commonly prescribed anti-psychotics are "conventional" and "atypical"

Conventional Anti-psychotics

- Bind to the D2 receptor (tight and long lasting) and block dopamine transmission. Thus effectively reduces levels of dopamine in brain

Atypical Anti-psychotics

- Newer drug with less side effects. these work by temporarily binding to the D2 receptor (so ultimately allowing for normal dopamine transmission)

- Atypical Anti-psychotic are favoured because the drug allows for normal dopamine transmission and there are less side effects (e.g. Tardive Dyskinesia) or risk of ESP

- Also the drug act on serotonin systems and other systems in brain. Perhaps this is why drug treats positive and some negative symptoms of schizophrenia