Treatments of schizophrenia – antipsychotic drugs
The most important development in the treatment of schizophrenia was the
advent in the 1950’s of several medications collectively referred to as
antipsychotic drugs.
What are the categories of antipsychotic drugs?
There are two main categories of antipsychotic drugs that are used to treat
schizophrenia.
These are called typical antipsychotic drugs and atypical antipsychotic drugs.
, Typical antipsychotics
Are also referred to as neuroleptics because they produce side effects similar
to the symptoms of neurological disease.
Such as?
They often cause unwanted side effects of physical movements – or example,
muscle tremors similar to those found in Parkinson’s disease.
How do they work?
The antipsychotic drugs are referred to as dopamine antagonists as an excess
of the neurotransmitter dopamine has been linked with schizophrenia.
They lessen activity in this neurotransmitter system.
How?
They reduce the severity of the most prominent symptoms by binding to
dopamine receptors blocking them at the synapse – reducing the brain’s
dopamine activity on thought, emotion, and behaviour.
What effect does this have on the symptoms of schizophrenia?
Chlorpromazine revolutionised the treatment of schizophrenia.
It was originally developed to calm patients facing surgery.
Chlorpromazine reduces the frequency and strength of hallucinations and
other positive symptoms (delusions, disordered thinking) and has a calming
(sedative) effect.
The most important development in the treatment of schizophrenia was the
advent in the 1950’s of several medications collectively referred to as
antipsychotic drugs.
What are the categories of antipsychotic drugs?
There are two main categories of antipsychotic drugs that are used to treat
schizophrenia.
These are called typical antipsychotic drugs and atypical antipsychotic drugs.
, Typical antipsychotics
Are also referred to as neuroleptics because they produce side effects similar
to the symptoms of neurological disease.
Such as?
They often cause unwanted side effects of physical movements – or example,
muscle tremors similar to those found in Parkinson’s disease.
How do they work?
The antipsychotic drugs are referred to as dopamine antagonists as an excess
of the neurotransmitter dopamine has been linked with schizophrenia.
They lessen activity in this neurotransmitter system.
How?
They reduce the severity of the most prominent symptoms by binding to
dopamine receptors blocking them at the synapse – reducing the brain’s
dopamine activity on thought, emotion, and behaviour.
What effect does this have on the symptoms of schizophrenia?
Chlorpromazine revolutionised the treatment of schizophrenia.
It was originally developed to calm patients facing surgery.
Chlorpromazine reduces the frequency and strength of hallucinations and
other positive symptoms (delusions, disordered thinking) and has a calming
(sedative) effect.
