Managing and Coping with Stress Flashcards
How do benzodiazepines manage stress?
They slow down activity within the CNS by enhancing the action of GABA (an inhibitory neurotransmitter) to reduce feelings of anxiety and make an individual feel calmer
The BZ drug molecules combine with GABA receptors so the channels are opened for longer meaning more chloride ions can enter the neuron making it more negatively charged and therefore less responsive
How do beta-blockers manage stress?
Reduce activity within the sympathetic NS by acting directly on the heart and circulatory system which reduces anxiety and makes an individual feel calmer
They block beta-adrenergic receptors which decrease heart rate and blood pressure making an individual less stressed
What are the strengths of drug therapy?
1) researcher shows BZs and beta-blockers are effective as Kahn et al (1986) followed patients over 8 weeks and found BZs were more effective than a placebo and Lockwood (1989) investigated beta-blockers and found musicians taking them felt better about their performance and their performance was judged as better too
2) easy method to manage stress because they require little effort and act quickly so can be used by a wide range of patients
3) most individuals do not experience side effects as beta-blockers do not operate directly on the brain
What are the limitations of drug therapy?
1) drugs only treat the symptoms of stress and don’t target the source enabling a person to cope in the short-term but once they stop taking the drug, the effects are likely to return - most effective to combine drug therapy and psychological methods
2) can be serious side effects from taking BZs (such as tiredness and agitation) and they produce biological dependence meaning they may not be appropriate for people with everyday stress
