Biological therapies

• Antipsychotics

  drugs used to reduce intensity of positive symptoms.
• Typical antipsychotics

  drugs that act as dopamine antagonists.
• Atypical antipsychotics

  drugs for schizophrenia that target a range of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin
• Drug therapies:

  antipsychotic drugs are the most common treatment for schizophrenia .

  -may be in the form of tablets or syrup or injections.

  -may be required in the short or long term.

  -antipsychotic drugs are divided into typical and atypical drugs.
• Typical antipsychotics:

  there is a strong association between the use of typical antipsychotics like chlorpromazine and the dopamine hypothesis.

  • they act as dopamine antagonists in the dopamine system
  • Antagonists are chemicals that reduce the action of a neurotransmitter. Dopamine antagonists block dopamine receptors in the synapses of the brain, reducing the action of dopamine.
  • according to the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia this dopamine-antagonist effect normalises neurotransmission in key areas of the brain,reducing symptoms like hallucinations.
  • it is also an effective sedative due to its effect on histamine receptors.
• Atypical antipsychotics:

  -developed to improve the effectiveness of drugs in suppressing symptoms and minimise side effects

  -clozapine has potential fatal side effects of a blood condition.It binds to dopamine receptors and also acts on serotonin and glutamate receptors.It is believed that this improves mood and reduces depression and anxiety in patients,so may improve cognitive functioning.

  -risperidone binds more strongly to dopamine receptors than clozapine and is effective in much smaller doses.
• Typical: chlorpromazine

  Atypical: Clozapine + Risperidone