Drug therapies

• What are the two types of antipsychotic?

  • Typicals
  • Atypicals
• What do typical drugs do?


  Deal with positive symptoms
• What do atypical drugs do?


  Deal with positive and negative symptoms
• How do typical drugs work?

  Bind to D2 receptors in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, but do not stimulate them, blocking the action of the dopamine receptors
• Why are atypical better than typicals?

  • Reduced extrapyradmidal effects
  • Have a beneficial effect on negative symptoms
  • Suitable for patients who resist other treatments
• How do atypicals work?

  Inhibit D2 receptors then dissolve to allow normal dopamine transmission

  They also act on serotonin and glutamate receptors
• Who found atypicals were more effective than typicals?

  Meltzer (2012)
• What did Leucht find about the effectiveness of antipsychotics?


  64% relapsed on a placebo, compared to 24% on antipsychotics
• What did Lieberman find about side effects?


  74% of patients stopped taking the drugs due to intolerable side effects
• What are some side effects of antipsychotics?

  • Sudden death
  • Weight gain
  • Tardive dyskinea (involuntary movement)
• What is an issue with the effectiveness of antipsychotics?

  Only short term benefits rather than long term benefits
• What are the ethical issues with drug therapies?

  Are they just used to make patients easier to deal with?
• What can happen if the drug is taken for a long period of time?

  Dependance and addiction