Biological Therapy for Schizophrenia
Outline and evaluate one biological therapy for Schizophrenia? (4 + 8 marks)
Antipsychotic medication is an effective way of treating severe forms of Schizophrenia. There are two types medication used: Conventional antipsychotic drugs are dopamine antagonists, which means they attach to dopamine receptors but do not stimulate them. By reducing stimulation in the brain, medication such as Chlorpromazine can eliminate the positive symptoms of Schizophrenia. Atypical antipsychotic drugs also work on the dopamine system but instead are believed to block serotonin receptors as well. Kapur and Remington (2001) suggested that the drugs do not involve serotonin but only dopamine receptors. They help by only temporarily occupying the dopamine receptors and then quickly dissociating to allow normal function of dopamine. It is this characteristic that is thought to be responsible for the lower levels of side effects compared to conventional drugs.
However there are many things that question the effectiveness of conventional antipsychotics. Many studies have been done so find out levels of relapse rates between people on medication and those on a placebo drug. Davis et al (1980) analysed the results of 29 studies and found that relapse occurred in 55% of patients whose drugs were replaced by a placebo and 19% of those on the conventional drug. He found a significant difference in terms of relapse rates between treatment and placebo groups in every study reviewed and therefore showing the therapeutic effectiveness of the drugs. Ross and Read (2004) suggested that those figures are misleading as it indicates that 45% of patients on the placebo did benefit.
The effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic medication was analysed by Leucht et al (1999). The meta-analysis of studies showed the superiority of these drugs compared to conventional drugs. However the analysis showed that two of the new drugs tested were only ‘slightly’ more effective than conventional drugs, and the
Antipsychotic medication is an effective way of treating severe forms of Schizophrenia. There are two types medication used: Conventional antipsychotic drugs are dopamine antagonists, which means they attach to dopamine receptors but do not stimulate them. By reducing stimulation in the brain, medication such as Chlorpromazine can eliminate the positive symptoms of Schizophrenia. Atypical antipsychotic drugs also work on the dopamine system but instead are believed to block serotonin receptors as well. Kapur and Remington (2001) suggested that the drugs do not involve serotonin but only dopamine receptors. They help by only temporarily occupying the dopamine receptors and then quickly dissociating to allow normal function of dopamine. It is this characteristic that is thought to be responsible for the lower levels of side effects compared to conventional drugs.
However there are many things that question the effectiveness of conventional antipsychotics. Many studies have been done so find out levels of relapse rates between people on medication and those on a placebo drug. Davis et al (1980) analysed the results of 29 studies and found that relapse occurred in 55% of patients whose drugs were replaced by a placebo and 19% of those on the conventional drug. He found a significant difference in terms of relapse rates between treatment and placebo groups in every study reviewed and therefore showing the therapeutic effectiveness of the drugs. Ross and Read (2004) suggested that those figures are misleading as it indicates that 45% of patients on the placebo did benefit.
The effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic medication was analysed by Leucht et al (1999). The meta-analysis of studies showed the superiority of these drugs compared to conventional drugs. However the analysis showed that two of the new drugs tested were only ‘slightly’ more effective than conventional drugs, and the