Biological Treatments S

• Antipsychotics (Neuroleptics)


  Medication used to control symptoms of psychosis e.g. delusions and hallucinations, taken as pill form or injected
• Typical Antipsychotics


  First generation drug therapy used since 1950s, less popular due to severe side effects and only treating positive symptoms

  • Clorpromazine - work as dopamine antagonists, reducing activity by blocking receptors
  • Side Effects: dry mouth, constipation, lethargy, tardive dyskinesia
• Atypical Antipsychotics


  Second generation drug therapy used in 1970s onwards, less severe side effects, and can address negativr symptoms like avolition

  • Clozapine - block dopamine receptors but also act on other neurotransmitters e.g. acetylcholine, glutamate and serotonin
  • Side Effects: weight gain, cardiovascular problems
• (+) A03: Leucht (2013)


  Meta-analysis of 212 studies finding drug therapy to be more effective than placebo, suggesting targetting dopamine is effective in reducing symptoms
• (+) A03: Bagnall (2003)


  Reviewed 232 studies comparing effectiveness of Atypical and Typical antipsychotics

  • Atypical were more effective than typical, resulting in fewer movement disorder side effects
  • Clozapine was the most effective drug
• (+/-) A03: Tarrier (1998)


  Placed patients in random routine care (antipsychotics), CBT or combined treatment

  • Combined treatment significantly improved positive symptoms

  Better when combined with cognitive therapy of CBT too
• (+/-) A03: Economic Implications


  Mass production reduces cost of treatment, gets patients back into working and increases productivity; but drug therapy doesnt treat the underlying problem, more expensive long term