drug therapy

• Typical antipsychotics (first gen) - chlorpromazine


  Dopamine antagonists - reduce dopamine activity by blocking dopamine receptors at the synapse

  This reduces positive symptoms of schizophrenia such as hallucinations and has a calming/sedative effect
• Atypical antipsychotics (second gen) - clozapine, risperidone


  Block dopamine receptors and also act on other neurotransmitters such as serotonin

  Also addresses the negative symptoms of schizophrenia e.g., avolition, speech poverty
• Typical antipsychotics - side effects


  involuntary muscle control (tardive dyskinesia), lethargy, confusion, dry mouth, constipation
• Atypical antipsychotics - side effects


  weight gain, cardio-vascular problems, agranulocytosis (autoimmune disorder affecting white blood cells)
• ao3 - Thornley et al. (2003)


  compared chlorpromazine to placebo - 13 trials with over 1000 patients

  chlorpromazine associated with better functioning and reduced symptom severity