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Émile has been diagnosed with schizophrenia - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 5 - 2021 - Paper 2
Question 5
Émile has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. She sees ghosts when she is in a room on her own, and thinks that the government is spying on her through her mobile pho... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Émile has been diagnosed with schizophrenia - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 5 - 2021 - Paper 2
Step 1
Discuss one biological treatment that Émile’s psychiatrist could use with her.
Answer
One biological treatment that Émile’s psychiatrist could use is antipsychotic medication, such as risperidone.
Antipsychotics are primarily used to manage symptoms of schizophrenia, particularly hallucinations and paranoid thoughts. In Émile’s case, her hallucinations of seeing ghosts and believing that the government is spying on her could be alleviated through this medication.
Typically, antipsychotics work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, which can help reduce both the positive symptoms—like hallucinations—and the negative symptoms—such as emotional dullness.
It's important to note that these medications are usually taken either orally as a tablet or in liquid form. If Émile is resistant to medication as she has been in the past, the psychiatrist may need to consider her concerns closely and reassure her regarding side effects and the intended benefits.
If Émile starts to take the medication, she should expect to see some improvement in her symptoms within a couple of weeks. If risperidone does not prove effective, the psychiatrist may reassess her condition and perhaps trial another type of antipsychotic, addressing her fears of control in the process.