Treatments for schizophrenia

Biochemical 

Anti psychotics – help to make biochemical imbalances stable.

1. Traditional – control positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Davison and Neale (1997) found that they mainly block dopamine receptors, however they have side effects, which resemble symptoms of Parkinson’s tremors, dystonia and dyskinesia.
2. Newer – second and third generation anti psychotics still block dopamine but produce fewer side effects. Some of them also control serotonin, which allows to treat both positive and negative symptoms.

Sarkar and Grover (2013) conducted a meta-analysis of studies testing the effectiveness of the drugs on children and adolescents with schizophrenia.

• 1st and 2nd generations were superior to the placebo in alleviating symptoms.
• 2nd generation was overall superior with CHLOZAPINE 
• Extra pyramidal side effects with 1st generation.
• Side effects that affected metabolism with 2nd generation.

Ehret, Sopko and Lemieux (2010) noted that a 3rd generation drug, named LURASIDONE, has been shown to be effective in 4 separate clinical trials. However, there still were side effects like nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Thus, newer drugs need to be developed because of metabolism problems and bone marrow toxicity.

Atypical anti-psychotics – these have mood stabilising properties and reduce delusions and hallucinations. However, there may be weight gain and drowsiness.

Malgorzata (2002) found that symptoms often reappear once the patient terminated the therapy, meaning it has little long-term effect on the disorder.

Electro-convulsive therapy 

A procedure where an electrical current is passed through a patient’s brain fora few seconds by placing electrodes to specific areas of the head. This results into a seizure, which lasts for about a 1 minute and enables the patient to regain consciousness in 15 seconds. 

• Nowadays, people are given anesthetics and muscle relaxants to reduce the pain.
• The treatment is mostly used with depression.

Zeruas, Theleritis and Soldatos (2012) conducted a review of the use of ECT in schizophrenia and they looked for 4 issues:

1. Symptom response 
2. Technical application 
3. Continuation ECT
4. Combination with medicine

It would appear that ECT can be quite effective with catatonic schizophrenia and in reducing paranoid delusions. There is also evidence it might improve a person’s response to medication as the two worked better together.

Token Economy 

Behavioural therapy based on the concept of classical conditioning, that people need to be rewarded in order to improve and increase the chances of them learning the desired behaviour. 

PAUL AND LENTZ (1977) found that token economy is an effective mean of treating people suffering schizophrenia as it reduces both positive and negative symptoms and allows for drug therapy to be reduced or completely erased.

For more detailed information – Paul and Lentz (1977)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy 

The therapy aims to change or modify people’s thoughts and beliefs and how they process information. For schizophrenia, CBT is intended to help patients make sense of the psychotic experiences and reduce residual symptoms.

SENSKY (2000) found that if a schizophrenic patient is treated with CBT, their positive and negative symptoms will be reduced, and the effects will remain for a long-period of time.

For more detailed information – Sensky (2000)