Biological treatments: Essay style- Outline and evaluative two or more therapies used in the treatment of schizophrenia (24 marks)
A01: One biological treatment is the use of antipsychotic medication, either liquid or tablet form, aiming to help the individual with the psychotic disorder as well as to increase their feeling of well being. Some people can take a course of antipsychotics and never experience a schizophrenic episode again; others will require this medication for life in order to avoid the suffering and symptoms associated with schizophrenia.
A01: One traditional 1st generation antipsychotic is chlorpromazine, this works by blocking dopamine receptor cells, aiming to reduce message overload as it’s stopping some of those cells firing too much. These drugs tend to work better for type 1 diagnosed schizophrenics and mainly target positive symptoms. Atypical 2nd generation antipsychotics, such as clozapine, work by blocking dopamine receptor cells (less) as well as blocking serotonin receptor cells. This drug has been found to work better for type 2 schizophrenics as they work well targeting negative symptoms.
A01: Although much evidence suggests antipsychotic drugs are effective at reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia, but there are controversies surrounding their use: many patients relapse and many suffer quite serious side effects, so their effectiveness needs to be considered against a consideration of their appropriateness.
A01: Schooler et al’s research looked into relapse rates and side effects of first- and second- generation antipsychotics. 555 patients suffering their first episode of schizophrenia were randomly allocated in either a first generation antipsychotic group or a second generation antipsychotic group. A double blind procedure took place and relapse was measured by changes in score of the positive and negative symptoms scale (PaNSS) and standards tests measured side effects.
A02: Results showed both groups to have...