Methods Of Modifying Behaviour-Beta Blockers Flashcards
What do Beta Blockers do?
They reduce the activity of the Sympathetic nervous system which reduces the physical effects of stress
How do Beta Blockers reduce the physical effects of stress?
They block the receptor sites for adrenaline and noradrenaline which has an antagonistic effect on the sympathetic nervous system
What are the two types of Beta Blockers?
Non-selective bb’s
Selective bb’s
What do non-selective Beta Blockers target?
Serval areas of the body as well as the heart
Why are Beta Blockers for used for Stress called off-label use?
It is because bb’s are used for heart conditions mainly , off-label as there hasn’t been clinical trials for stress and anxiety
What percentage of musicians take Beta Blockers before preformances according to Lockwood (1989)
27%
What are the two evaulation points of social implications for Beta Blockers?
Impact of prescribing drugs off-label
Possible over prescription
What are the two evaluation points for ethical implications of Beta Blockers?
Side effects
Using beta blockers to enhance performance
What are two evaluation points for the effectiveness of Beta blockers?
Benefits on performance and self-reported levels of stress
Long-term effectiveness
Explain the impact of prescribing drugs off-label
It may issues of valid consent as patients may not be informed of the true purpose of the drug , therfore may feel decieved
Why is the over-prescription of Beta Blockers significant?
Statistics show us that Beta Blocker prescription has risen 7% in only a year - doctors may be using them as a more time-effective way to mask symptoms
What are side effects of Beta Blockers?
The drugs have been found to have little and not severe side effects
However , due to their effect on the sympathetic nervous system , patients may suffer from heart palpitations if they arent weaned off
What are the ethical implications of using Beta Blockers to enhance preformance?
Athletes use bb’s to enhance preformance , which provides an unfair advantage to those who use them as they cope better with the physical effects of stress
Why is the long-term effectiveness of Beta Blockers questioned?
As they dont combat the root cause of problem , they aren’t particularly effective in the long term as they only cause the physical effects of stress to dampen , not the psychological
Which research shows the benefit on performance and self-reported effectiveness of Beta Blockers
Patients in a control group who were given the pill had lower heart rates and were able to play more accurately than those who were given a placebo
Same results on a self report study on students after a maths test
