Clinical Key Question

• What is the key question regarding schizophrenia treatments?

  How effective are the current treatments for schizophrenia?
• What is schizophrenia associated with?

  Loss of touch with reality
• What are the two types of symptoms in schizophrenia?

  Positive and negative symptoms
• What are the two types of delusions in schizophrenia?

  Paranoid and grandeur delusions
• What does drug therapy for schizophrenia target?

  An excess or deficiency of neurotransmitters
• What do first generation antipsychotics target?

  Excess dopamine
• How do first generation antipsychotics work?

  By binding to D2 receptors
• What symptoms do second generation antipsychotics target?

  Both positive and negative symptoms
• What is ACT in the context of schizophrenia treatment?

  Assertive community treatment
• What is the goal of ACT?

  To increase client independence in the community
• How much does schizophrenia cost society annually?

  $11.8 billion
• What percentage of the NHS budget goes to mental health?

  18%
• What could happen if people with schizophrenia cannot access treatment?

  Relapse, health complications, or suicide
• What is the implication of effective treatments for schizophrenia?

  Reduces strain on mental health services
• What happens if treatments for schizophrenia are ineffective?

  Symptoms will not improve, increasing relapse risk
• When were first generation antipsychotics developed?

  In the 1950s
• How do typical antipsychotics work?

  By blocking D2 receptors to reduce dopamine
• What is the effectiveness of first generation antipsychotics?

  60% of patients improve positive symptoms
• When were second generation antipsychotics developed?

  In the 1990s
• What neurotransmitters do second generation antipsychotics target?

  Dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate
• How does clozapine function as an antipsychotic?

  Effective for both positive and negative symptoms
• What did McEvoy et al find about clozapine?

  Most effective for longer treatment duration
• What is a weakness of antipsychotic treatments?

  They treat symptoms, not the cause
• What is the relapse rate for patients who do not maintain their dose?

  60-80%
• What is tardive dyskinesia?

  Involuntary movement of lips and tongue
• What percentage of people experience tardive dyskinesia?

  30%
• What is agranulocytosis?

  A potentially fatal blood disorder
• What percentage of people develop agranulocytosis from SGDs?

  2%
• What is the client to practitioner ratio in ACT?

  1:10
• What is the core service team in ACT responsible for?

  Helping patients meet all their needs
• Why is a multidisciplinary approach beneficial in ACT?

  Considers all aspects of the patient's life
• What is a limitation of ACT?

  Must be used with other treatments
• What does ACT support in patients?

  Independence and confidence
• What does Carlsson suggest about schizophrenia?

  It may be more glutamate based
• Why should treatments be used in conjunction?

  To alleviate symptoms effectively