Biological therapies for schizophrenia: drug therapy

Typical antipsychotics
These have been around since the 1950s and include Chlorpromazine - there is a strong association between the use of typical antipsychotics and the dopamine hypothesis

• Typical antipsychotics work by acting as antagonists in the dopamine system
• Dopamine antagonists work by blocking dopamine receptors in the synapse of the brain, reducing the action of dopamine
• According to the dopamine hypothesis, this dopamine-antagonist effect normalises neurotransmission in key areas of the brain, reducing symptoms like hallucinations

As well as having antipsychotic properties, Chlorpromazine is also an effective…