stress management. physiological approaches anxiolytic drugs
Post on 25-Dec-2015
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Stress Stress managementmanagement
Physiological approachesPhysiological approaches
Anxiolytic drugs
BenzodiazepinesBenzodiazepines
Enhance the activity of gamma-amino-butyric acid GABA
GABA = body’s natural form of anxiety relief.
Allows chloride ions into neurons to slow down activity – relaxation
Reduces serotonin activity.
Beta-blockersBeta-blockers
Reduce activity of sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.
Reduce heart rate, blood pressure and levels of cortisol
STRENGTHSSTRENGTHS
Effective: Placebo checks provide evidence (Kahn et al 1986)
Easy to useLifts blame from patient
WEAKNESSESWEAKNESSES
Addiction to BZs. Withdrawal symptoms even on mild doses.
Side effects – drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, weakness, dry mouth, diarrhoea, upset stomach, changes in appetite, blurred vision, changes in sex drive, seizures, severe skin rash, irregular heart beat.
Treats symptoms, not the cause
PHYSIOLOGICAL APPROCHESPHYSIOLOGICAL APPROCHES
BIOFEEDBACK
4 PROCESSES OF 4 PROCESSES OF BIOFEEDBACKBIOFEEDBACK
FEEDBACK
Machines provide information about various ANS activities: e.g. heartbeat, blood pressure.
RELAXATIONTechniques used to reduce activity of sympathetic nervous system – reduces heart rate, blood pressure etc
Operant conditioning
Reduced heart rate = rewarding
Leads to repeated behaviour
Leads to ‘stamping in’
Transfer
Skills are transferred into real situations
strengthsstrengths
Successful in treating a wide range of behaviours e.g. heart rate, bp, skin temperature and brain waves.
Successful in treating disorders, e.g. curvature of the spine, migraine, asthma, Reynaud’s disease (restricted blood flow to fingers and toes)
Biofeedback found to work more effectively than just relaxation (Bradley 1995)
No side effects
WEAKNESSESWEAKNESSES
Expensive – specialist equipment and needs supervision
Treats symptoms rather than the cause - but does provide the individual with potentially long-lasting method of dealing with symptoms
Requires lots of commitment and effort (although this could be a strength)
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