Recently we covered the biological therapies for schizophrenia - drugs & ECT. The powerpoint is here.
Prior to the discovery of antipsychotics in the 1950s there was no effective treatment for schizophrenia. Insulin treatment and ECT were used, but largely as methods of control rather than treatment. ECT is no longer used for schizophrenia because of the risks associated with it (but is occasionally for severe depression), but it is interesting to study for historical interest and because of the inherent ethical questions it raises.
Don't worry about the biochemistry of how the antipsychotics work - their overall effect is to lower dopamine levels. Tardive dyskinesia is a worrying side effect, which can be irreversible.
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