Question 115 marks
Question
Schizophrenia can be treated with medical techniques and it can be managed with psychological techniques. Medical treatments include the use of electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) and drugs such as antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics. Schizophrenia can be managed psychologically using token economy and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). (a) Suggest one difference between medical and psychological techniques for treating and managing schizophrenia. [2] (b) Explain two differences between antipsychotic drugs and atypical antipsychotic drugs. [4] (c) Explain how ECT is used to treat schizophrenia. [4] (d) Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of psychological techniques to manage schizophrenia. You should include a conclusion in your answer. [5] Psychology and consumer behaviour
Mark scheme
1 Schizophrenia can be treated with medical techniques and it can be managed with psychological techniques. Medical treatments include the use of electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) and drugs such as antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics. Schizophrenia can be managed psychologically using token economy and cognitive- behavioural therapy (CBT). 1(a) Suggest one difference between medical and psychological 2 techniques for treating and managing schizophrenia. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited): medical requires therapist to prescribe drug/treatment; psychological does not need prescription. Psychologist cannot prescribe drugs/ECT patient is passive with medical techniques; patient is active with psychological medical changes physiology; psychological changes thinking/behaviour Marks: 1 mark for each side of term. Note: Medical techniques can include ECT and psychological can include token economy and CBT. 1(b) Explain two differences between antipsychotic drugs and atypical 4 antipsychotic drugs. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited): antipsychotics (first generation, 1950s), atypical antipsychotics (second generation, 1990s) antipsychotics (typical side effects more likely: ExtraPyramidal Symptoms (EPS) and tardive dyskinesia (TD: abnormal facial, tongue and mouth movements). EPS includes: dyskinesia: (chewing movements); dystonia: (muscle rigidity); akathisia (inability to keep still) atypical antipsychotics (atypical because side effects less likely, such as EPS and TD, but weight gain, heart disease and diabetes more likely) typical: block neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin); atypical block but for shorter time (so fewer side effects) Marks: 1 mark for each side of term × 2. Antipsychotics more side effects, Atypical antipsychotics fewer side effects = 2 marks because both types are named correctly. No mark if they are not. Note: 0 marks for ‘more effective’ no evidence to suggest this is the case. 0 marks for descriptions. 1(c) Explain how ECT is used to treat schizophrenia. 4 Most likely answer: muscle relaxant given electricity applied bilaterally or unilaterally patient convulses (twitches because of muscle relaxant) patient is unconscious, then wakes and recovers. Marks: 1 mark for each different (correct) point of how it is used to treat schizophrenia. Note: side effects etc. are irrelevant. 1(d) Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of psychological techniques to 5 manage schizophrenia. You should include a conclusion in your answer. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited): Strengths: person has to be active in treatment, rather than passive treatments aim to ease the symptoms; learn to cope treatments such as CBT can be applied anywhere no drugs are involved which cause side effects and are addictive Weaknesses: some people prefer to be passive drugs, such as swallowing a pill is easy drugs inhibit production of neurochemicals associated with schizophrenia CBT still needs a therapist to supervise more costly and time-consuming than giving drug Conclusion: any appropriate conclusion drawn from the discussion that has been presented. 1 mark if appropriate. A conclusion is a ‘decision reached by reasoning’ and so a summary of points already made scores 0 marks. Marks: Question requires discussion; always plural of each argument, and always requires conclusion. 1 mark for each strength/weakness (however detailed) and related to the question up to 4 max. 2 marks max for two strengths/weaknesses unrelated to the question. 1 mark for conclusion.