Drug Therapy Flashcards
What are the two drugs known for treating stress?
Benzodiazepine
Beta-blockers
How do benzodiazepines work to treat chronic stress?
Work in the brain to stop the body being aroused by stressful stimuli. Bzs increase the action if the neurotransmitter GABA ( which occurs naturally as a calming chemical in the brain ). Bzs boost the action of GABA that already exists, so the brain feels calmer and less aroused by stressful stimuli. BZs also dampen the excitatory effects of serotonin so the nervous system activity is slowed down, increasing feelings of calmness.
How do beta blockers treat stress?
These drugs act in the nervous system to block beta-adrenergic receptors found in various parts of the body such as the heart and blood vessels. These receptors are stimulated by adrenaline, which is released from the adrenal medulla when we are scared or threatened by a stressful stimulus. BBs block the beta adrenergic receptors from being stimulated by adrenaline. This reduces the physical effects of stress in the flight or fight response.
What is the research for BZs?
Zandstra et al(2004) compared a group of short term and a group of long term users of BZs. They found that those most at risk of long term use (and therefore more problems with dependence) were those who were older, poorly educated and had little social contact with other people. Their research suggests that anyone prescribed BZs who is in this group should be more closely monitored or should be encouraged to use other treatments for stress.
What is the research evidence for beta blockers?
Alexander et al (2007) set participants up in a stressful situation (public speaking) and then tested their cognitive performance in a mental arithmetic task. The participants were tested several times, including under the influence of beta blockers, and also after being given a placebo (a drug with no clinical effect, although the participant is not aware of this). They found that stress impaired performance on the maths task, but this effect was reversed if the participants took beta blockers, suggesting that beta blockers may improve cognitive impairments caused by stress.
Positive evaluation point for Bzs?
Drugs like bzs are a cost effective way of treating effects of stress because patients can be given the drugs to take in their own time, meaning they do not need supervision. Thus bzs are economical as they require less money to be spent on the NHS as hey don’t require to be seen by Doctors all of the time.
What is a negative evaluation point for Bzs?
BZs are only suitable for short term treatment of stress because they can be addictive. Over time the brain can develop tolerance, meaning that they become less effective the longer they are taken.
Some patients experience severe side effects from BZs, such as memory problems and reduced concentration span.
What is a positive evaluation of beta blockers?
BBs are a useful way to treat some of the symptoms of stress that can be dangerous, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure. Because they work very quickly they are a favourable treatment for stress.
Drugs are a familiar form of treatment, so patients are more likely to stick this this than attend therapy sessions regularly.
What is a negative evaluation point for Beta Blockers?
The drugs only treat the immediate symptoms of the stressful situation, so while they are useful as a short term solution, they do not help in the long term.
They can have side effects, including hallucinations and fatigue.
