This is an essay which received a A* 12/12. well structured and coherent. Excellent writing style and including relevant critical evaluation and a detailed outline.
Outline and evaluate biological therapies for
schizophrenia.
There are several biological therapies to treat schizophrenia;
conventional, atypical drugs, psychosurgery and electroconvulsive
therapy.
The basic mechanisms of conventional drugs such as Chlorzomapine
are to reduce the effect of dopamine in the brain and therefore
eliminate the symptoms experienced by the individual suffering
from schizophrenia. Dopamine antagonists bind to dopamine
receptors in the brain, particularly the D2 receptors and through the
reduction of stimulation the symptoms experienced such as
hallucinations and delusions are eliminated.
Although atypical drugs also work on the dopamine receptors, they
are also thought to block serotonin. However Kapur and Remington
argued that these drugs do not affect serotonin or other
neurotransmitters. Atypical drugs work by temporarily occupying the
dopamine receptors in the brain of the individual suffering from
schizophrenia. They then rapidly dissociate from the dopamine
receptors and allow normal dopamine transmission to occur.
Drug treatments are cheap and effective enabling individuals
suffering from schizophrenia to live a relatively normal life by
reducing and eliminating the symptoms suffered such as
hallucinations and delusions. However it is important to understand
that antipsychotic drugs only mask the symptoms but do not treat
the underlying cause. The reductionist approach of the biological
explanation suggest that excess dopamine is the cause and
therefore reducing dopamine levels will treat schizophrenia.
Although anti-psychotic drugs work by reducing dopamine levels and
thereby eliminating the positive symptoms it is clear there is no
direct link as patients taking these drugs do not experience relief
from the symptoms until after a few weeks from taking these drugs.
As these drugs are not a cure patients are required to undergo long
term drug treatments which leads to dependency and passivity.
These drug treatments have got significant side effects such as
Tardive Dyskinesia which raises ethical issues as they are
dehumanising and often lead to patients discontinuing drug
treatments which will lead to relapse. A study found that 30% of
patients taking conventional drugs developed TD and in 75% of
cases it was irreversible compared to only 5% in atypical drugs
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