Biological Treatments

of Schizophrenia
Charlotte & Katie & Fenella

Conventional
Antipsychotics
Also known as neuroleptic drugs as
they cause unwanted effects of
physical movement.
The first typical antipsychotics to
enter clinical use were the
phenothiazines. These are a type of
antihistamine and were first used in
the 1950s in the form of a drug
called chlopromazine

Chlopromazine
This drug reduces the frequency of
hallucinations and other positive
symptoms and works on blocking the
receptors like dopamine which are
located in the synapses of the neuron
It must be taken all of the time even if
symptoms are seemingly absent,
otherwise symptoms can return with
great severity
When this drug was introduced
hospitalisation was dramatically reduced

 Throughout the
1970s/80s many
different types of
antipsychotics were
introduced
These included
thioxanthenes such
as Navane
All of the drugs were
developed to reduce
dopamine levels in
the brain

Cole et al (1964)
He found that after 6 weeks of
treatment with antipsychotics drugs
people with schizophrenia showed
significant improvement compared to
those given a placebo.
Those given a placebo only improved
a little.

Side Effects
Severe muscle tremors
Extrapyramidal effects
Shuffling feet when walking, moving
slowly and rigid facial expression.
Restlessness and limb discomfort
accompanied by bizarre face and
tongue movements.
Tardive Dyskinesia 10% of people
have this long term

 Some of these side effects can be

relieved if also given some
Parkinson's drugs at the same time.
However Tardive Dyskinesia is very
difficult to lessen or eliminate.
Also a small number of people dont
respond to the drugs at all.
Loebel et al (1992) found that 16%
were not likely to recover within 12
months of taking medication.

Atypical Antipsychotics
Second-generation antipsychotics are known as
atypical antipsychotics. These have been
introduced within the past 10 years.
These drugs reduce not only positive symptoms
but negative ones too.
The most commonly used and effective are
Clozapine and Risperidone.
These drugs dont only work to reduce
dopamine but do so with other
neurotransmitters.
This drug has been effective in people who have
not responded to conventional antipsychotics.

Side Effects

Nausea
Weight gain
Irregular heartbeat
Excessive salivation
Reduced white blood cells resulting
in akathisia

Evaluation - Strengths
Both types of drugs help to reduce positive
symptoms so people can live normal lives
and not be hospitalised.
Meltzer (1999) discovered 66% of patients
with stubborn symptoms recovered on
atypical medication after 12 months.
The conventional antipsychotics have
become as popular as bimonthly injections,
which ensure adherence to regimes and
help prevent relapse.

Evaluation - Limitations
Atypical drugs are not widely used as they are
expensive.
Both types of drugs have bizarre, unwanted and
significant side effects.
Conventional medication is best sued when it is
given in low doses to control relapse rates but these
drugs only extend the interval between relapses, it
doesnt prevent them.
The drugs are a means of control and preventing
relapse. They are not a cure.
There is no evidence for conventional antipsychotics
reducing negative symptoms