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26 - Biological treatments for psychotic disorders

from Section 5 - Treatments in Psychiatry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2009

By
Ragy R. Girgis ,
Scott A. Schobel  and
Jeffrey A. Lieberman
Edited by
Robin M. Murray ,
Kenneth S. Kendler ,
Peter McGuffin ,
Simon Wessely  and
David J. Castle
Robin M. Murray
Affiliation:
King's College London
Kenneth S. Kendler
Affiliation:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Peter McGuffin
Affiliation:
University of Wales College of Medicine
Simon Wessely
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
David J. Castle
Affiliation:
University of Melbourne
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Summary

This chapter reviews the current biological treatments of psychosis, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, bipolar disorder and psychotic depression. Antipsychotic medications are an important part of the biological treatment of psychosis. The chapter presents the history and drug development, mechanism of action and pharmacology of these agents. It deals with some of the side effects associated with antipsychotic medications. Mood stabilisers represent a key part of the biological treatments of psychosis. This chapter reviews use of elements such as lithium, valproate, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine and topiramate in the treatment of psychosis. It also discusses the implementation of the biological treatments of psychosis. This discussion is divided by the phases of treatment for primary psychosis and affective psychosis. Goals of treatment in the acute phase of psychosis include harm prevention, symptom improvement and rapid return to baseline levels of functioning.

Keywords

Alzheimer's diseasecognitive symptomsdementiamental health problemspsychiatric disorderspsychological symptomsneurosisold age
Type
Chapter
Information
Essential Psychiatry , pp. 586 - 621
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

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