Biological Therapy for Schizophrenia

• Drug therapy - the use of medication to treat a disease or condition.
• Typical antipsychotics - are used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders - since 1950s, chlorpromazine (taken as tablets, syrup or injection). Typical prescribed doses declined over the last 50 years. Can be administered max. 1000mg if taken orally.
• Dopamine antagonists - used to treat Parkinson's disease. Strong association between chlorpromazine (anti-psychotic) works as antagonists in the dopamine system. (Reduce action of neurotransmitter). Dopamine levels build up but production reduced when taking.
• Dopamine hypothesis - Dopamine - antagonist effect normalises neurotransmission in key areas of the brain and reduces positive symptoms such as hallucinations.
• Sedation effect - Chlorpromazine is a sedative and antipsychotic drug that is used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Effects histamine receptors.
• Atypical antipsychotics - Used since 1970s as aim to maintain/improve effectiveness of drugs to supress psychosis symptoms.
• Chlozapine: people taking it today have to get regular blood tests to ensure they are not developing agranulocytosis.
• Chlozapine works the same way as chlopromazine but also acts on seretonin and glutamate receptors. Prescribed to patients at high risk of suicide because of its strong mood enhancing effects. eg. reduce depression and increase cognitive functioning.
• Respiridone - Can be taken in syrup form or as a tablet or injection which lasts 2 weeks. Works like chlozapine but binds very strongly to dopamine therefore is more effective in smaller doses and works to reduce serious side effects of chlozapine.
• evidence for effectiveness strength - large base to support idea that both typical and atypical antipsychotics are moderately effective in tackling the symptoms of schizophrenia. Thornley (2003) reviewed studies comparing the effects of chlorpromazine to control conditions. Data from 13 trials with a total of 1121 participants showed that chlorpromazine was associated with better overall functioning and reduced symptom severity compared to placebo.