Antipsychotics

• Typical antipsychotic drugs (e.g. chlorpromazine) work by blocking dopamine receptors, reducing dopamine activity in the brain. This helps to lessen symptoms of schizophrenia, particularly hallucinations and delusions.
• Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., clozapine) bind to dopamine receptors but also affect serotonin receptors. These drugs are more effective than typical antipsychotics because they not only reduce psychotic symptoms but also help alleviate depression and anxiety while improving cognitive function. Additionally, they enhance mood, which is crucial since up to 50% of people with schizophrenia attempt suicide.
• AO3 - Data Review

  Strength) Thornley reviewed data from 13 trials and found that chlorpromazine is associated with better functioning and reduced symptom severity compared to a placebo.

  ->This suggests that antipsychotics work.
• AO3 - Typical Antipsychotics

  Typical antipsychotics are associated with dizziness, agitation, sleepiness, and weight gain. The most serious side effect is NMS (neuroleptic malignant syndrome) which is caused by blocking dopamine action in the hypothalamus which can be fatal.

  -> This suggests that antipsychotics can harm as well as good.
• AO3 - Conflicting evidence

  The use of these drugs is strongly associated with the dopamine hypothesis and the idea that there are higher levels of dopamine in the subcortex in SZ people. However, evidence shows that the dopamine levels in other parts of the brain are too low. So antipsychotics shouldn't work.

  -> This suggests that antipsychotics may not be the best treatment.