biological treatment

• 💊 drug therapy

  biological treatment that uses antipsychotic medications to reduce the intensity of positive symptoms
• 💉 typical antipsychotics

  dopamine antagonists

  • block dopamine D2 receptors in mesolimbic pathway

  reduces positive symptoms
• example of typical antipsychotics

  chlorpromazine
• when were typical antipsychotics developed?

  1950s
• side effects of typical antipsychotics

  • extrapyramidal symptoms
  • drowsiness
  • weight gain
• 💉 atypical antipsychotics

  • block dopamine D2 receptors
  • act on serotonin receptors

  treats both positive and negative symptoms

  • improves mood and cognitive functioning
• example of an atypical antipsychotic

  • clozapine
  • risperidone
• when were atypical antipsychotics developed?

  1990s
• side effects of atypical antipsychotics

  • drop in white blood cells
  • weight gain
  • diabetes
• ✅ strength of drug therapy - effective

  effective in reducing positive symptoms

  • typical antipsychotics significantly reduce hallucinations and delusions
  • improves quality of life and reduces hospital admissions
  • practical and evidence-based treatment
• ❌ limitations of drug therapy - side effects

  risk of serious side effects

  • typical - extrapyramidal symptoms and atypical - agranulocytosis
  • lead to relapse or non-compliance
  • undermines long-term usefulness
• ❌ limitation of drug therapy - symptom

  treats the symptom not the underlying cause

  • reduce dopamine activity but don't address psychological or environmental triggers
  • temporary relief without long-term recovery
  • not a standalone solution
• 📖 supporting research

  • Thornley et al - meta-analysis of 13 studies with 1000 patients, chlorpromazine was more effective than a placebo
  • Leucht et al - reviewed 212 studies, atypical drugs were more effective
  • Kane et al - study on 1500 patients, 55% without medication relapsed within a year compared to 25% with medication