Biological Therapies for Schizo

Psychosurgery
1. prefrontal lobotomies
  1. makes them less violent,less agitated & easier to manage
2. :( unethical
3. :( sever side effects - apathy, death, coma, impaired judgement
4. :( often imprecise - other areas of brain destroyed
ECT
1. ~ balance the neurotransmitters
  1. :( doesn't seem to have an affect on Dopamine
Drugs
1. Neuroleptic drugs
  1. :) reduce the positive symptoms
  2. :( little effect on the negative symptoms
Evaluation
1. Strengths:
  1. Rosenhan & Seligman
    1. most effective therapy for schizos = drugs
      1. e.g neuroleptics - chlorpromazine
      2. + family therapy
  2. improve quality of life - chance to be "normal"
    1. helps them to "function adequately"
  3. helps them to manage alarming symptoms
2. Weaknesses:
  1. e.g neuroleptics - chlorpromazine
    1. only works on 1/3 with positive symptoms & ~ 1/3 pos&neg
  2. side effects
    1. sedated, dry mouth, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating
  3. only treats symptoms not underlying causes
    1. depends what you time are cause e.g. :
      1. genetic - no not treated
      2. social - no not treated
      3. too much dop = yes
  4. clozapine
    1. expensive but fewer side effects
      1. fatal blood disease in 1-2%
  5. dependent on them = less control = more stressed

Resource summary

	Created by webberl over 12 years ago