D. Papakostopoulos, ed. / Psychophysiolqg Society abstracts 219

EVALUATION OF THE USE OF RELAXATION TECHNIQUES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INSULIN-REQUIRING DIABETES MELLITUS

Clare BRADLEY

Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, U.K.

A pilot study of six men with insulin-requiring diabetes provided some supporting evidence for the hypothesis that relaxation may be an effective means of reducing blood glucose levels in such patients. In the longer term, insulin requirements may be reduced, and fluctuations in diabetes control associated with stressful experiences may be avoided.

A more extensive study of men and women with insulin requiring diabetes is now under way using a baseline, treatment, follow-up design to compare 4 treatment methods:

(1) Conventional insulin regime. (2) Conventional insulin regime with training in passive relaxation. (3) Conventional insulin regime with training in EMG biofeedback relaxation

together with passive relaxation instructions. (4) Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) pump treatment.

A three week baseline period and nine week treatment period preceeds two three week follow-ups, immediately post-treatment and at six months.

All patients monitor their diabetes control throughout the period of the study, EMG activity is monitored weekly throughout the nine week treatment period and at assessment sessions during baseline and follow-ups when changes in blood glucose levels associated with performance of a demanding video game are examined. In addition to patients’ measures of diabetes control, long-term measures of blood glucose control (glycosylated haemoglobin) are obtained during baseline and follow-up periods.

The results of the pilot study will be discussed together with preliminary results from the main study.

STRESS MANAGEMENT: AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL

Tom COX

Stress Research, Department of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, U.K.

?e management and alleviation of stress can be approached from several ,ifferent perspectives and using many different strategies. These can range

220 D. Papakostopoulos, ed. / Psychophysiolow Socrety ahstract~

from physical engineering through organisational development to the use of drugs and psychotherapy. This paper considers how these diverse approaches may be integrated through contemporary discrepancy theories of stress which emphasise the dynamic interaction between the person and their environment. With such a conceptual integration possible, it then argues for an eclectic

practical approach to stress management. In presenting this case, the paper also considers the process by which stress problems are defined and strategies for their solution arrived at and evaluated.

4.2. SYMPOSIUM: PREPARATION, PRIMING AND THEIR EFFECTS ON RESPONDING

Convened by C. FRITH and I. MARTIN

AUTOMATIC AND STRATEGIC CONTROL OF ACTION

Chris FRITH

CRC Division of Psychiatry, Harrow, Middlesex, U.K.

It has been proposed (e.g. Schneider and Shiffrin, 1977) that actions are controlled in two qualitatively distinct modes known as automatic and stra- tegic. These two modes may be distinguished in a number of ways. For example many automatic actions can be committed simultaneously whereas strategic actions can only be carried out one at a time. The modes may also be distinguished by the effects of priming information (e.g. category names in a lexical decision task). Automatic priming is rapid and facilitatory only, whereas strategic priming is slow and may be inhibitory (Neely, 1977).

The study of physiological systems can considerably increase our under- standing of these modes of action. In the EEG we might hope to see evidence of changes corresponding to the ‘spreading activation’ which Posner and Snyder (1975) have proposed underlies rapid, facilitatory priming effects. In addition it is possible to treat psychophysiological responses as examples of action systems. It seems likely that eye movements and eye blinks, for instance, are to a greater extent under automatic control than are finger movements. Studies and comparisons of these different systems should therefore provide powerful tests for the distinction (and existence) of automatic and strategic processing.