Treatment Biomedical Module 73
Biomedical Therapy Treatment of psychological illnesses through the use of medication and other medical treatments Psychotropic medications Psychosurgery Electroconvulsive therapy (ect)
Psychopharmacotherapy Four major classifications Antipsychotic drugs Antianxiety drugs Antidepressant drugs Mood-stabilizing drugs video
Antipsychotic drugs neuroleptics Psychoses Thorazine Medicine helps Disorders in which hallucinations or delusions indicate some loss of contact with reality Thorazine First – 1950s – schizophrenia Medicine helps Effective for lessening hallucinations and delusions
Antipsychotic drugs Excess of dopamine cause of schizophrenia – block dopamine receptors Thorazine, haldol, clozaril Side Effects Tardive dyskinesia Issues with walking, drooling and muscle spasms
Antianxiety drugs Axiolytics Help decrease anxiety and tension Low levels of gaba
Antianxiety drugs Two main types Babituates Benzodiazepines Sedatives – anxiety and sleep-wake disorders Rarely used today – highly addictive High risk of accidental overdose and dangerous withdrawal Benzodiazepines Used to assist as sleep aid, tension reducer or muscle relaxant Librium, Valium, xanax Safer – tolerance and withdrawal issues
Antidepressants Most commonly used drug in clinical practice Treat depression and anxiety Three main types Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (maois) Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) Prozac, paxil, zoloft Most popular milder side effects
Mood stabilizers Used to balance extremes of emotion that are experienced by someone with bipolar disorder Lithium Helps with the mania Anticonvulsant mood stabilizers Fewer side effects and are less toxic
Psychosurgery Lobotomy film Most drastic form Surgical removal or destruction of particular areas of the brain Prefrontal lobotomies NOT REALLY USED ANYMORE Lobotomy film
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) 1940 ECT USED TO CAUSE CONVULSIONS (BRAIN SEIZURES) TODAY – UNDER MUSCLE RELAXTANT AND ANESTHESIA