Biological and Psychological Approaches to the Treatment of Schizophrenia

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Apr 29, 2024

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Treatment of Schizophrenia 1 Biological and Psychological Approaches to the Treatment of Schizophrenia Austin Olson College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Grand Canyon UniversityPSY-570 – Psychopathology Dr. Troy Jackson July 10, 2023

Treatment of Schizophrenia 2 Biological and Psychological Approaches to the Treatment of Schizophrenia Schizophrenia, a complex and incapacitating psychotic disorder, is characterized by the extreme disruption of an individual's thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and behaviors. With a lifetime prevalence rate of nearly 1%, this disorder has far-reaching effects not only on the individuals who live with it, but also on their families and communities ( McGrath, Saha, Chant, and Welham, 2008). Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations and delusions; negative symptoms include social withdrawal and lack of motivation; and cognitive deficits, which affect areas such as attention and memory (Schizophrenia, 2022). Historically, the biomedical paradigm of schizophrenia treatment has emphasized the use of medications to control symptoms. This approach has led to significant improvements in the lives of many patients over time (McGrath, Saha, Chant, and Welham, 2008). However, a biological treatment approach alone is insufficient to address the wide-ranging effects of this disorder on individuals' daily lives. Consequently, the treatment paradigm for schizophrenia has shifted towards an integrative model that incorporates both biological and psychological techniques. This dual-pronged approach targets not only the central psychotic symptoms, but also the psychosocial deficits frequently encountered by people with schizophrenia. Despite this, challenges persist in both biological and psychological treatment approaches, necessitating ongoing research and clinical innovation to improve the long-term outcomes for people with schizophrenia. In this essay, this writer will delve deeper into the biological methods traditionally used to treat schizophrenia, emphasize the drawbacks of each method, and propose psychological

Treatment of Schizophrenia 3 treatments that can complement these biological treatments. Consideration will be given to the significance of the treatment setting, whether inpatient or outpatient, and the long-term outcomes for individuals with this psychotic disorder will be discussed. Biological Method Problems The primary biological approach to treating schizophrenia involves antipsychotic medications, which are classified into first-generation (typical) and second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics. However, these medications, despite their clinical utility, carry significant problems. First-generation antipsychotics, such as Haloperidol and Chlorpromazine, function as dopamine antagonists. They act by inhibiting dopamine receptors in the brain, mainly in the mesolimbic pathway, which is thought to be responsible for positive symptoms of schizophrenia such as delusions and hallucinations (Meltzer, 2013). However, their usage is frequently accompanied with a slew of severe side effects known as extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). Motor disturbances such as akathisia (restlessness), dystonia (muscle spasms), and Parkinsonian symptoms such as tremors and stiffness are all signs of EPS. The most disturbing is tardive dyskinesia, a disorder characterized by uncontrollable, repetitive movements, particularly in the face, that can persist long after the medicine is stopped (Solmi et al., 2017). These adverse effects can have a major influence on patients' quality of life, which can lead to poor treatment adherence.

Treatment of Schizophrenia 4 To address the issue of EPS, second-generation antipsychotics such as Clozapine, Risperidone, and Olanzapine were developed. These medications affect on the dopamine system as well, but they also have effects on other neurotransmitter systems, such as serotonin. While they are less likely to cause EPS, they do have their own set of concerns. Most notably, they have been linked to metabolic side effects such as considerable weight gain, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia, which raises the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Despite being the most effective medication for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, a potentially catastrophic fall in white blood cell count that requires regular blood testing ( Meltzer, 2013). Furthermore, both antipsychotic classes largely target the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. They have shown limited efficacy in treating negative symptoms such as social withdrawal and anhedonia (lack of pleasure), as well as cognitive deficiencies, which have a significant influence on the patient's functioning and quality of life ( Kahn et al., 2015). Finally, medication non-adherence is a widespread issue in schizophrenia treatment, with rates as high as 50% recorded. This can be caused by a variety of circumstances, such as severe side effects, a lack of understanding of the illness, and forgetfulness ( Lacro et al., 2002). Psychological Methods Biological interventions play a central role in the treatment of schizophrenia, but the addition of psychological methods can result in more comprehensive care, addressing not only the disorder's symptoms but also the disorder's broader effects on individuals' lives. There are a

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