Biological Treatment (Drug Therapy) for Schizophrenia

• What is drug therapy?

  • The use of antipsychotic drugs, also known as neuroleptics
  • Used to treat or control psychosis; delusions and hallucinations, usually in the form of injections or pills
• What are typical antipsychotics

  Drug therapy used since the 1950s

  • Work as dopamine antagonists by reducing dopamine activity through blocking dopamine receptors at the synapse
  • (e.g  Chlorpromazine)
• What is Chlorpromazine?

  Taken as tablets, syrup or injections

  • Can be taken up to a maximum of 1000mg
  • By calming the dopamine system, positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions are reduced
  • Has sedation/sedative effects
  • Side effects: dry mouth, lethargy, confusion
• What are atypical antipsychotics

  Second generation drug therapy used from the 1970s
• What is Clozapine?

  atypical antipsychotics

  • Úsed to be more effective at reducing side effects as well as improve the effectiveness of drugs in suppressing symptoms of psychosis
  • Block dopamine receptors but also act on other receptors such as glutamate and serotonin