Drug Therapy

• What are the different family dysfunction explanations for mental illness?

  They include communication issues, role dysfunction, and emotional neglect.
• What are the two types of dysfunctional thought processing according to Frith?

  Positive and negative thought processing.
• How do typical antipsychotic drugs work to treat schizophrenia?

  They primarily block dopamine receptors to reduce positive symptoms.
• How do atypical antipsychotics work to treat schizophrenia?

  They act on both dopamine and serotonin receptors, addressing a wider range of symptoms.
• How effective are antipsychotic drugs at treating schizophrenia?

  They are effective for many patients but may not work for everyone.
• How do antipsychotic drugs differ from SSRIs?

  Antipsychotics primarily target dopamine, while SSRIs target serotonin.
• What was the treatment for schizophrenia prior to 1950?

  Long-term segregation in psychiatric wards.
• How did Rosenhan challenge the treatment of schizophrenia?

  He demonstrated that psychiatric diagnoses could be unreliable.
• What neurotransmitter was discovered in 1952 that influenced drug development for schizophrenia?

  Dopamine.
• What are antipsychotics used to treat besides schizophrenia?

  Manic depression (bipolar) and severe anxiety.
• How can antipsychotic drugs be administered?

  As tablets, syrup, or injections.
• What are the two types of antipsychotic drugs?

  Typical and atypical antipsychotics.
• What are the side effects of typical antipsychotic drugs?

  Blurred vision, muscle spasms, and tardive dyskinesia.
• What symptoms do typical antipsychotics primarily treat?

  Positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
• What are the advantages of atypical antipsychotics over typical ones?

  They have fewer side effects and treat a broader range of symptoms.
• What is the difference between an agonist and an antagonist?

  An agonist increases neurotransmitter effects, while an antagonist decreases them.
• How do dopamine antagonists work?

  They block dopamine receptors in the brain's synapses.
• What is a limitation of antipsychotic drugs in treating schizophrenia?

  They only treat symptoms, not underlying causes.
• What ethical concerns are associated with the use of antipsychotic drugs?

  Potentially unethical use and violation of human rights.
• What did Lieberman (2005) find regarding chronic schizophrenia patients and treatment discontinuation?


  74% discontinued treatment after 18 months due to side effects.
• What did Leucht (2012) find in his meta-analysis regarding medication and relapse rates?

  64% of patients relapsed when taken off medication compared to 27% who stayed on it.
• What is the most common form of treatment for schizophrenia?

  Antipsychotic drug therapy.
• What is a benefit of antipsychotic drugs in terms of patient living conditions?

  They allow people to live functioning lives outside of hospitals.
• What are the key points regarding the history of schizophrenia drug therapies?

  • Prior to 1950, treatment involved long-term segregation.
  • In 1952, dopamine was discovered, leading to antipsychotic drug development.
  • Antipsychotics can treat schizophrenia, manic depression, and severe anxiety.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of antipsychotic drug therapies?

  Strengths:

  • Effective for many patients.
  • Allow functioning lives outside hospitals.
  • Cheap to mass produce.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Side effects can lead to treatment discontinuation.
  • Only treat symptoms, not underlying causes.
  • Ethical concerns regarding use and human rights.