Support for this theory is the effect of amphetamines. These drugs work by increasing the levels of dopamine. When the drugs given to a non- schizophrenic the individual has been found to develop schizophrenic-like symptoms, this therefore suggests that the increased dopamine levels is likely to be linked to the disorder. Furthermore patients with schizophrenia have been found to have symptoms worsen when they have taken amphetamines. Grilly had found people with Parkinson’s disease (low levels of dopamine) who were taking the drug L-dopa to raise their levels of dopamine were developing schizophrenic type symptoms.
Raleigh et al (1991) found that if serotonin levels were reduced by altering their diet, there was an increase in aggressive behaviour whereas an increase in serotonin levels resulted in a decrease in aggressive behaviour suggesting the difference in aggression was due to the serotonin levels. Other research demonstrating the link between low levels of serotonin and aggression was done by Bond (2005). He found that antidepressants which increase serotonin levels reduced irritability and impulsive aggression. The link between dopamine and aggressive behaviour is not as well established. However, increased levels of dopamine stimulated by amphetamines have shown an increase in aggression whereas antipsychotic drugs that reduce dopamine levels have been shown to reduce violent behaviour (Lavine and Buitelaar).
Common neuroleptic drugs such as Thorzine aim to block the activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine within 48 hours, which have proven to be effective. The brain is composed of many separate systems of communicating neurons that interact in complex ways. Neurons carry electrical impulses through their branches and communicate with other neurons by giving out chemicals into the tiny fluid spaces between sending and receiving neuron branches (referred as synapse). Dopamine neurotransmitters stick to the receiving neuron (receptors are shape to fit certain neurotransmitters). Neuroleptic drugs molecules are shaped so that they stick to the
Antidepressants on the other hand by balancing neurotransmitters such as serotonin and epinephrine witch can cause depression if not sufficiently balanced. Anxiolytic drugs are used to combat anxiety disorders one drug in this field is benzodiazepines (Bzs) they work by releasing more (GABA) witch slows down the nerve transmission calming people down. This drug is effective in areas such as phobias. Another biological therapy is ECT, it is a surgical based treatment commonly used on manic depressives who haven’t responded to antidepressants. This treatment is administrated to a patient by putting a patient into an unconscious state then passing a current of 0.6 amps through the brain.
Most mental health experts agree that when depression is severe, medication can be helpful, even life saving. Other studies show that the benefits of depression medication have been exaggerated. When it comes to mild to moderate depression, antidepressants are only slightly more effective than Natural Cures. They altar chemicals in the brain like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine causing the body to be more prone to side
Drugs can be delivered directly under the skin (subcutaneously). It is useful for efficient, slow, and even absorption for sustained effects on the body but drug substance can be irritating. Inhaling drugs can be a great way of administering a drug considering the rapid absorption and avoidance of hepatic first pass metabolism. But there is not really a good way of regulating the dose. Intrathecal drugs is a rare way of administering drug directly into the CNS but there is a higher risk for systemic toxicity.
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a complex disorder, for which biological explanations have been put forward, with varying degrees of success. One biological explanation which has been proposed for SZ is the Dopamine Hypothesis. This theory suggests that SZ results from over-activity in the brain dopamine (DA) systems. The excess in the brain’s DA systems is both an excess of DA being released from neurons into the synapse, and an excess of DA receptors, meaning that the excess DA released is absorbed into the nervous system. Schizophrenic patients also tend to have increased DA sensitivity, meaning that even if their brain’s DA systems were working at a ‘normal’ level their symptoms might still be present.
It is probably best to minimize the use of anti-depressants and to maximize the use of mood-stabilizing agents. Mood-stabilizing agents are used to treat manic, hypomanic and mixed episodes and are used to prevent more mood episodes. This is not the absolute way, remember, because the use of mood-stabilizing agents is used primarily to treat mania. As with the problem of taking primarily anti-depressants, rapid cycling bipolar patients who use mainly mood-stabilizing agents will have severe depressive episodes. There is a trade-off between the use of either mood-stabilizing agents or anti-depressant drugs.
Methadone: The Cure to Opiate Addiction In 2006, there were approximately 600,000 opiate dependent people in the United States. Today, that number has doubled. There are clinics around the United States that can help opiate dependent addict’s reform their lives without being in pain. These clinics use a drug called Methadone to help this process. While the public has formed negative stereotypes due to misunderstanding methadone, methadone maintenance is the most effective form of substance abuse treatment for heroin and pain pill addiction.
Alcohol/drugs can increase the level of dopamine (this compensates for the lack of dopamine receptors in individuals with A1 variant of the DRD2 gene). Dopamine stimulates the receptors and thud the behaviour is maintained and the individual relapses.