Outline and evaluate drug therapies in the treatment of schizophrenia (16
marks)
Antipsychotics are drugs that are effective in treating the most disturbing forms of
psychotic illness they work by reducing dopaminergic transmissions. This medication
helps people with the disorder to function as well as possible in their life and are
usually recommended as the initial treatment for the symptoms of schizophrenia,
after which clinicians use a combination of medication and psychological therapy.
Typical antipsychotics reduce the effects of dopamine by binding to dopamine
receptors but not stimulating them thus blocking their action.This eliminates
hallucinations and delusions which is experienced by those with schizophrenia and
although hallucinations and delusions diminish within a few days of taking
medication other symptoms may take several weeks before significant improvement
is noted, between 60% and 75% of D2 receptors must be blocked but in order for
this drug to be effective. D2 receptors in other parts of the brain must also be
blocked leading to side effects such as weight gain,muscle stiffness, dystonia and
much more. Typical antipsychotics reduce positive symptoms only as they only act
on dopamine.
Atypical antipsychotics carry a low risk of extrapyramidal side effects and have
beneficial effects on negative symptoms as well as cognitive impairment and are
suitable in the treatment for treatment-resistant patients. These work by blocking D2
receptors however, they only temporarily occupy the D2 receptors and then rapidly
dissociate to allow normal dopamine transmission. They don’t tend to cause
movement problems found with typical antipsychotics however, some side effects
include dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and more. Atypical antipsychotics
reduce both positive and negative symptoms as they act on both dopamine and
serotonin.
Support for the effectiveness of antipsychotics comes from studies that have
compared relapse rates for antipsychotics and placebos. Leucht et al. (2012) carried
out a meta-analysis of 65 studies, published between 1959 and 2011, and involving
nearly 6000 patients. All patients had been stabilised on either typical or atypical
antipsychotic. Some of these patients were taken off their antipsychotic medication
marks)
Antipsychotics are drugs that are effective in treating the most disturbing forms of
psychotic illness they work by reducing dopaminergic transmissions. This medication
helps people with the disorder to function as well as possible in their life and are
usually recommended as the initial treatment for the symptoms of schizophrenia,
after which clinicians use a combination of medication and psychological therapy.
Typical antipsychotics reduce the effects of dopamine by binding to dopamine
receptors but not stimulating them thus blocking their action.This eliminates
hallucinations and delusions which is experienced by those with schizophrenia and
although hallucinations and delusions diminish within a few days of taking
medication other symptoms may take several weeks before significant improvement
is noted, between 60% and 75% of D2 receptors must be blocked but in order for
this drug to be effective. D2 receptors in other parts of the brain must also be
blocked leading to side effects such as weight gain,muscle stiffness, dystonia and
much more. Typical antipsychotics reduce positive symptoms only as they only act
on dopamine.
Atypical antipsychotics carry a low risk of extrapyramidal side effects and have
beneficial effects on negative symptoms as well as cognitive impairment and are
suitable in the treatment for treatment-resistant patients. These work by blocking D2
receptors however, they only temporarily occupy the D2 receptors and then rapidly
dissociate to allow normal dopamine transmission. They don’t tend to cause
movement problems found with typical antipsychotics however, some side effects
include dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and more. Atypical antipsychotics
reduce both positive and negative symptoms as they act on both dopamine and
serotonin.
Support for the effectiveness of antipsychotics comes from studies that have
compared relapse rates for antipsychotics and placebos. Leucht et al. (2012) carried
out a meta-analysis of 65 studies, published between 1959 and 2011, and involving
nearly 6000 patients. All patients had been stabilised on either typical or atypical
antipsychotic. Some of these patients were taken off their antipsychotic medication
