Drug therapy and mindfulness

• Typical antipsychotic drug to treat psychotic illlnesses
• TAPD - chlorprozamine, treat and modify schizophrenia.
• TAPD - bind to dopamine receptors and block dopamine from binding or stimulating receptor sites in the brain, this reduces the positive symptoms of hallucinations/delusions.
• TAPD - antagonist blocks the usual function of a substance, reduces symptoms caused by high dopamine levels.
• Atypical antipsychotics for example clozapine
• AAPD - it can treat and modify schizophrenia.
• AAPD - dopamine antagonists, only block dopamine receptors temporarily then disconnect to allow normal dopamine transmission and is less likely to cause side effects.
• Agonist substitution - mimics the effect of substance.
• AS - for example methadone to treat or modify a heroin addiction.
• AS - binds to opiod receptors and activate them in a similar way to heroin and have enough stimulation to reduce cravings for heroin. This prevents addict going into withdrawal, occupies the opiod receptor to discourage other opiod drugs maintains in a safer way till abstinence.
• Antagonist substitution - for example naltrexone and can treat or modify an alcohol addiction.
• ANS - binds to opiod receptors and blocks the effect of addictive behaviour if it is used, if individual engages in addiction, no effect from it, no increase of dopamine so addictive behaviour is less rewarding, so less likely to engage reduces cravings and addictive behaviour no longer leads to pleasure.
• Effectiveness - P - Anti psychotic are effective, Cole - 75% given a conventional AP and much improved and non got worse, 25% given a placebo, 48% got worse, one of the first to show SZ can be treated using drugs, don't have to lock people in institutions.
• Effectiveness - P - Agonist substitution is effective. Van der Brink, uses an adequate dose of methadone which is effective at maintaining opiod abstinence. Retains the addict on their treatment therefore prevents relapse.
• Effectiveness - N - Not effective if people don't take the medication. Retten Bacher, only 54% fully comply with AP medication due to the side effects and lack of understanding of the importance of it. It can't work properly if people don't engage.
• Effectiveness - N - Doesn't effectively treat root of problem, doesn't resolve any underlying issue causing addiction in first place therefore doesn't cure the problem. You remain on methadone long-term not an effective care just controls the symptoms.
• Ethical issues - N - Serious side effects, agonist/antagonist, methadone affects respiration and stomach issues. But there is a risk of over dosing. Naltrexone affects liver function AP causes headaches, nausea, uncontrollable facial movements. Tardive dyskinesia affects 30% of patients and can be irreversible and life threatening with symptoms such as agranulocytosis. It is unethical and can pose harm but is worth it to decrease suffering.
• Ethical issues - N - Issues gaining valid consent, psychotic is a loss of touch with reality and drugs can be administered without full consent. A lack of understanding of possible side effects. Unethical to treat people without their will.
• Ethical issues - N - Chemical straight jacket, Tomas Szaz, Anti psychotics aren't really 'therapeutic' they are a way of keeping troublesome people under control. Labelling people as mentally ill is excluding those viewed as 'abnormal' from society.
• Focus on the good life - taking control of our feelings and behaviour is central to he good life.
• Focus o the good life - practicing mindfulness we gain more control over our thoughts which is key to increasing life satisfaction and contentment.
• Authenticity of goodness and excellence - can all develop goodness and excellence about themselves and live the best version of our lives we can.
• Authenticity of goodness and excellence - focuses on developing mental health rather than treating it.
• Authenticity of goodness and excellence - focuses on individual's natural positive traits their goodness and excellence.
• Authenticity of goodness and excellence - encourages people to break some unconscious habits of thinking and behaving to stop them living life to the full.
• Authenticity of goodness and excellence - lead to a greater overall wellbeing.
• Authenticity of goodness and excellence - aims to enhance a persons positive characteristics through 'acceptance based methods' which encourage the individual to develop care virtues such as gratitude resilience and optimism.
• Acknowledges free will - use free will to take control of own mind.
• Acknowledges free will - paying attention in a particular way, on purpose in the present moment and non judgementally.
• Acknowledges free will - positive approach
• Acknowledges free will - taking control of our thoughts people choose to engage in mindfulness (meditation or mindful breathing) and exercise control over ow much time they spend on negative thinking and minimise.
• Acknowledges free will - rather than allowing our thoughts to run free and out of control causing us stress and anxiety.
• Acknowledges free will - could be that mental problems are due to uncontrolled negative automatic thinking.
• Acknowledges free will - demonstrated in 4 week mind course, getting ou of auto-pilot.
• Mindfulness based stress reduction - developed by Jon-Kabat-Zinn in 1970's to treat patients struggling with life's difficulties and physical or mental illness.
• Mindfulness based stress reduction - initially created to aid hospital patients and since used effectively by a wide range of people from al walks of life.
• Mindfulness based stress reduction - 8 week course, 45 minute group sessions after completing course person should be able to build techniques they learn in everyday life.
• Mindfulness based stress reduction - one technique is mindful breathing or meditation, with how to meditate properly relax in an upright position with straight spine no distractions and focus on breathing.
• Informal practices of mindfulness - although the therapy initially takes place in group sessions under the guidance of the practitioner one of the aims is that individuals develop the skills to engage in mindfulness in more informal settings, e.g. home, work etc. without the need of the structured sessions.
• Gaining control of thoughts - challenges controlled automatic negative thinking, people getting in the driving seat of mind, realise that thoughts are transient, e.g. getting out of autopilot.