Biological therapy for schizophrenia

• What drug is used to treat schizophrenia?

  Antipsychotics. They are taken long-term or short-term depending of likelihood of relapsing. They can typical or Atypical.
• Whats a type of typical anti-psychotic?

  Chlorpromazine. Taken as tablets, injections or syrups. Initial doses are small butt are increased to a maximum of 400-800mg.
• Whats a dopamine antagonist?

  Antipsychotics like chlorpromazine is an example of one. They work by reducing the action of a neurotransmitter (dopamine in this case).
• How does a dopamine antagonist work ?

  They work by blocking dopamine receptors in synapses, reducing dopamine levels in the brain. Eventually the production of dopamine is decreased. The effect of the antagonist neutralises the effect of too much dopamine in certain areas reducing symptoms like hallucinations.
• Whats the sedative effect of chlorpromazine?

  Believed to be related to its effect on histamine receptors. Used as a fast acting syrup to calm patients when first admitted into a hospital when they are most anxious.
• What are atypical antipsychotics?

  These were developed after typical antipsychotics to be more effective whist also reducing side effects. This includes clozapine and risperidone.
• What is clozapine?

  When it was first trialed in 1970 but was withdrew when people died from blood clots caused by aranulocytosis. Then it was discovered to be more effective than chlorpromazine. It is still used today with regular blood tests so aranulocytosis dosen't develop. 300-450 mg oral dose as injections are lethal.
• How does clozapine work?

  Along with being a dopamine antagonist, it affects serotonin and glutamate receptors. Used for those with high suicide risk as it reduces depression and anxiety in patients.
• What is risperidone?

  A more recently developed Atypical antipsychotic. An attempt to be as effective as clozapine but without risk of aranulocytosis. Can be taken in tablet and syrup form, or an injection that lasts two weeks.
• how does risperidone work?

  Also a dopamine antagonist and effective with serotonin receptors. However, it's much more effective so much smaller doses needed (4-8 mg) a day. Evidence to suggest it leads to less side-effects than other antipsychotics.
• AO3 Evidence for effectiveness

  Thornley et al - Reviewed studies comparing chlorpromazine to control. Reduced symptoms more than placebo. This shows that antipsychotics work, bringing validity to this form of treatment.

  CP- Healy - suggested serious flaws. Only short-term effects, and calming affects could explain the positive effect of drugs on people experiencing symptoms. Less impressive effectiveness.
• AO3 Serious side effects

  Likelihood of side-effect. For example, dizziness, fatigue, weight gain, itchy skin. More seriously, NMS, blocks dopamine to hypothalamus (regulates many systems) comatose or even fatal. 0.1% to 2%. Potential to do more harm than good. Intimidates people into taking them, symptoms then aren't resovled.
• AO3 Mechanism unclear

  Don't know how Typical and some Atypical work. Described to work via dopamine hypothesis (by decreasing excess dopamine). However, dosen't conform to updated hypothesis (hypodopaminergia), so in these cases the drug should not work. Perhaps, some other factor is involved (3rd variable issue).