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What’s the Matter? Drug Treatments for Schizophrenia

by Jeanette Rowe on May 14, 2012

In the world of psychology there are numerous disorders in which affect ones behavior however, one of the most potent and interesting disorders is schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is classified as a chronic disorder in which facilitates a loss of contact with the environment, hallucinations and delusions make it difficult for one with this disorder to function in everyday life. Although there is no cure for schizophrenia, symptoms are (in most cases) treatable and can be alleviated.

Based on numerous observations in drug therapy, high levels of dopamine are associated with schizophrenia. An acute psychotic episode is due to the brains inability to inhibit hypersensitivity to stimuli though several pathways (these pathways normally allow drug targets to be identified). Another correlation lies within the corpus callosum, abnormalities within this region inhibit the transmitting of information between two hemispheres. This information centralizes around perception processing, such as attention, language and memory. In addition to abnormalities in the corpus callosum, lower volumes of grey cortical matter and larger than normal ventricles are often times correlated with schizophrenia. There are many medications, all of which fall into one of two categories.

The first category is acknowledged as traditional antipsychotic treatment and is also refereed to first generation medication. Examples of a traditional antipsychotic drug would be include medications such as; Stelazine, Flupenthixol, Loxapine and etc. The other type of antipsychotic drug has recently emerged within the last decade and is commonly referred to as atypical. Some atypical medication includes Clozpine, Geodon, Serquel, and others.

Drug therapy does often help with symptoms of schizophrenia, however it also possesses side-effects in which have the potential to threaten ones’ physical health. Common side-effects include; weight gain, increased blood-sugar, constipation and drooling. In addition to these side-effects, there are others we do not commonly hear about. One of those side-effects is known as Hyperprolactinemia (the rise of prolactin levels); this side-effect can lead to bone density loss or abnormal milk production.

Between the pairing of drug therapy and clinical therapy the symptoms of this disorder are likely to lessen, but the social costs of being able to function are often times a hurdle in which prevents consistent usage by the patient.

In conclusion, schizophrenia is indeed a disabling disorder in which affects numerous aspects of a person’s life. Not only does this disorder pose a threat to one’s social life, it also hinders one’s health which prevents daily normal daily functioning. As a result, many may become intolerant of one’s behavior and misconstrue their transformation as deviant or a mere cry for attention. In response to this occurrence, it is important to remember that treatment of this disorder is extremely tedious and may not produce an abrupt change. Treatment for schizophrenia is one that requires constant monitoring and great precaution. Hopefully technological advances will help yield a socially acceptable solution, as well as a happy medium.

References Used

Arif and Mitchell (2011). Iloperidone: A new drug for the treatment of schizophrenia.

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, Vol. 68 Issue 4, 301-308,

Harrison and Gill (2010). The experience and consequences of people with mental

health problems, the impact of stigma upon people with schizophrenia: a way

forward. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 17, 242–250