| Course | DNP 672 Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan |
|---|---|
| Module | Module 5 |
| Paper type | Discussion board post and reply |
| Length | About 368 words |
| Format | Discussion post with APA 7 citations |
| School | Arizona State University |
| Program | Doctor of Nursing Practice |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for DNP 672 Module 5
DB 7: First- and Second-Generation Antipsychotics Compared
Old and New Are Not Bad and Good: What Really Separates Typical and Atypical Antipsychotics
Initial Post
Mechanism. Typical, or first-generation, antipsychotics such as haloperidol, chlorpromazine and perphenazine block dopamine D2 receptors. Atypical, or second-generation, drugs also block D2 receptors, but most also block serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, and some, such as aripiprazole, are partial D2 agonists. This combination is thought to lower the risk of movement side effects (Stahl, 2021).
Side effects: a trade. Typical drugs, especially high-potency ones, cause more extrapyramidal symptoms, including dystonia, parkinsonism and akathisia, raise prolactin and carry a higher risk of tardive dyskinesia. Many atypical drugs cause weight gain, diabetes and lipid problems. In a network meta-analysis of 15 antipsychotics in 212 trials, the odds of extrapyramidal side effects compared with placebo ranged from 0.30 for clozapine to 4.76 for haloperidol, while weight gain was greatest with olanzapine (Leucht et al., 2013).
Efficacy: smaller differences than expected. The same meta-analysis found that all 15 drugs beat placebo, with clozapine ahead of the rest and amisulpride, olanzapine and risperidone next, and that other differences were small and graded rather than a clear split between generations (Leucht et al., 2013). In the CATIE trial of 1,432 people with chronic schizophrenia, 74% stopped their assigned drug within 18 months. Olanzapine lasted longest but caused more weight gain and metabolic effects, and the typical drug perphenazine performed similarly to quetiapine, risperidone and ziprasidone (Lieberman et al., 2005).
Clozapine. Clozapine is the drug of choice for treatment-resistant schizophrenia and for reducing suicidal behavior, but it requires regular blood count monitoring for neutropenia and attention to constipation, seizures and myocarditis.
What this means in practice. The choice depends on the patient's side effect risks and priorities, not on the drug's generation. For anyone on an atypical drug, I monitor weight, waist, blood pressure, glucose and lipids at baseline and regularly. For anyone on any antipsychotic, I screen for movement disorders with the AIMS.
Reply to a Classmate (First Antipsychotic)
You asked how to choose a first antipsychotic for a young adult with first-episode psychosis. I would avoid the highest-metabolic-risk drugs where possible, use the lowest effective dose and involve the patient in weighing weight gain against movement side effects.
References
Leucht, S., Cipriani, A., Spineli, L., Mavridis, D., Örey, D., Richter, F., Samara, M., Barbui, C., Engel, R. R., Geddes, J. R., Kissling, W., Stapf, M. P., Lässig, B., Salanti, G., & Davis, J. M. (2013). Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 15 antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia: A multiple-treatments meta-analysis. The Lancet, 382(9896), 951-962. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60733-3
Lieberman, J. A., Stroup, T. S., McEvoy, J. P., Swartz, M. S., Rosenheck, R. A., Perkins, D. O., Keefe, R. S. E., Davis, S. M., Davis, C. E., Lebowitz, B. D., Severe, J., & Hsiao, J. K. (2005). Effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in patients with chronic schizophrenia. New England Journal of Medicine, 353(12), 1209-1223. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa051688
Stahl, S. M. (2021). Stahl's essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
What the DNP 672 Module 5 instructions ask for
Discussion board 7 comes in the psychosis week of the posted syllabus, after chapters on antipsychotics, and asks you to describe the differences between typical and atypical antipsychotics. Like the other boards, it is graded weekly for timely, evidence-based posts and replies that move the discussion forward. Expect to compare the two groups on mechanism, side effect profiles, efficacy and monitoring, and to explain how those differences shape the choice of drug for a patient. Large comparative studies help, since much of what students are taught about the two generations has been refined by head-to-head trials and meta-analyses. A short reply on a practical question completes the week.
How this DNP 672 Module 5 example is built
The post opens with the mechanisms of the two groups. A side effect section presents the trade between movement effects and metabolic effects, with figures from a 15-drug network meta-analysis. An efficacy section uses the same meta-analysis and the CATIE trial to show that differences are smaller than often assumed and do not split cleanly by generation. A short section covers clozapine, and a practice paragraph sets out monitoring for movement and metabolic effects. A brief reply addresses choosing a first antipsychotic. Three sources support it: the meta-analysis, the CATIE trial and the course text. No doses are given. Each section ends with the practical point it supports, so the comparison builds toward the monitoring plan and the choice of drug for a particular patient.
Reading the DNP 672 Module 5 grading rubric
Expect faculty to check mechanisms, a balanced account of side effects in both groups, current evidence on efficacy, attention to clozapine and monitoring requirements, and clinical reasoning about choosing a drug. Posts score higher when they challenge oversimplified claims with evidence, such as CATIE's findings. Reporting figures from large studies shows critical appraisal. Practical monitoring plans demonstrate safe prescribing. Replies that address real decisions, such as first-episode treatment, extend the discussion. Correct terminology, such as extrapyramidal symptoms and tardive dyskinesia, also matters. Faculty may also look for awareness that partial agonists such as aripiprazole behave differently from other atypical drugs, which complicates the simple two-group split. Clear tables or headings help classmates follow the comparison.
DNP 672 Module 5 help with common mistakes
A typical weakness is describing atypical drugs as simply better and safer. Show the trade-off between movement and metabolic effects. Another is ignoring monitoring. Use large comparative studies rather than drug company materials. If you want help preparing your own antipsychotic comparison, send the desk the list of antipsychotics your course covered. Leave doses out unless your faculty wants them. Add a practicum example, such as a patient switched because of weight gain, to your reply. Quote figures from large trials accurately, including the number of drugs or patients studied, so classmates can judge the weight of each finding.
Write yours, or have the desk draft it
This paper is an original model document written by our desk, not a submitted student paper and not an official Arizona State University document. Read it for the moves, then write your own to the instructions in your classroom. If you want one built to your exact prompt and rubric, the first custom sample is free and arrives in 24 to 48 hours.
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DNP 672 Module 5 questions, answered
Where can I find a free DNP 672 Module 5 sample paper?
Free on this page: a DNP 672 board 7 sample comparing typical and atypical antipsychotics, with meta-analysis and CATIE findings.
What is the main difference between typical and atypical antipsychotics?
Typical drugs mainly block dopamine and cause more movement side effects; most atypical drugs also block serotonin receptors and cause more metabolic effects.
Are atypical antipsychotics more effective than typical ones?
Not as a group; large studies found small, graded differences, with clozapine the most effective for treatment-resistant illness.
What did the CATIE trial find?
Most patients stopped their antipsychotic within 18 months, olanzapine lasted longest with more metabolic effects, and perphenazine performed similarly to several atypical drugs.
What monitoring do atypical antipsychotics need?
Weight, waist, blood pressure, glucose and lipids at baseline and regularly, plus screening for movement disorders.