PsychEd: educational psychiatry podcast PsychEd Episode 9: Treatment of Schizophrenia Part 1 with Dr. Jason Joannou and Dr. Andrew Lustig
Oct 30, 2018
Dr. Jason Joannou and Dr. Andrew Lustig, both inpatient staff psychiatrists at CAMH and assistant professors at the University of Toronto, delve into the nuances of schizophrenia treatment. They discuss the complexities of antipsychotic medications, emphasizing their mechanisms, side effects, and the significance of long-acting injectables. The conversation highlights the challenges of treatment-resistant schizophrenia, underlining the importance of personalized care and integrating psychosocial interventions for better patient outcomes. Ethical considerations and family-centered approaches to communication are also explored.
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First-Line Treatment for Schizophrenia
- The mainstay treatment for schizophrenia and related psychotic illnesses is antipsychotic medication.
- Doctors try to obtain consent and start antipsychotics upon diagnosis.
Dopamine Blockade in Antipsychotics
- While many antipsychotics exist, they all function similarly by blocking dopamine receptors (D2).
- Research is ongoing for novel mechanisms, but dopamine blockade remains the only reliable method for antipsychotic effects.
Typical vs. Atypical Antipsychotics
- Atypical antipsychotics differ from typicals primarily in side effects, not efficacy.
- Atypicals cause metabolic side effects, while typicals are linked to neuromuscular issues.