Stress - Management Flashcards
Name some stress related anxiety disorders?
Social phobias
PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder
GAD - generalised anxiety disorder
What are benzodiazepines (BZs)?
They are used to treat psychological disorders such as stress or anxiety disorders
Explain GABA?
It is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, makes it less likely for neurones to fire - reducing activity in the brain which can reduce anxiety
What are BZs also used for?
Anti anxiety drugs - valium
Mimic or enhance the effect of GABA
Reducing neurone firing - reducing activity - reducing anxiety and stress
What are beta blockers (BBs)?
They are used to treat psychological and physical results of stress
Such as high blood pressure
Designed to reduce the risk of stroke and CHD
Why would people need BBs?
Stress causes high rate of activity in the sympathetic branch of autonomic system
Hormones like noradrenaline and adrenaline lead to high arousal in the SAM system
Raising blood pressure and heart rate, risk factors for CHD and stroke
What do BBs do?
They reduce activity in the sympathetic nervous system
Binding to beta-adrenergic receptors preventing the arousal or stimulation
Therefore reducing the activity of adrenaline and noradrenaline
Slowing the heartbeat and reducing blood pressure
Reducing stress
What are the side effects of BZs?
Drowsiness, and episodic memory
What are the side effects of BBs?
Breathing difficulties as it narrows the airways (asthma)
What are some withdrawal issues with BBs?
Long term use can lead to dependency, not many problems as they do not affect the brain significantly
What are some withdrawal issues with BZs?
Long term use may lead to dependency and withdrawal symptoms include increased anxiety, tremors and headaches
What are the speed and effectiveness of BBs and BZs?
They work quickly without the need for long term work on changing behaviour required with psychological therapies
What is the effectiveness of BZs?
Modest effect and only short term
What is the effectiveness of BBs?
Meta analysis - hardly any effect at all the calcium channel blockers are better
What is stress inoculation training?
Increase the ability to cope with stressors, increasing resilience to stress
Who was SIT developed by?
Meichenbaum
What are the 3 elements of stress inoculation training?
Conceptualisation
Skills training and practice
Real life application
Explain Conceptualisation?
This is the cognitive element where they try to change their thoughts or behaviour
Involves discussing and categorising stressors, main features and possible ways of coping with this - whether this works
Explain Skills Training and Practice?
They are taught relaxation techniques and social skills such as eye contact, conversational skills and body posture - done through role plays and other “safe situations”
Explain Real Life Application?
Trying the techniques they have learnt in the real world
Contact with their therapist is maintained - follow up sessions and further training when and if required
Successful application is reinforcing as it gives them more confidence to continue
What is Hardiness training?
Increasing the ability of people to cope by training them to be more hardy, by developing levels of control, commitment and challenge
Evaluate Meichenbaum’s experiment?
SIT vs Systematic desensitisation (gradual exposure) vs control = anxious pre exam students
SIT group performed better in exams and gave better self report after, 2 fold they feel better and were less anxious meaning they performed better
Evaluate Saunders et al Meta-analysis?
18000 ppts and 37 studies
Results showed that SIT was effective means for reducing performance anxiety (cannot do presentations), reducing state anxiety (general state of being) and enhancing performance under stress
Evaluate the effectiveness of Hardiness training?
Little evidence to support this
Evaluate the appropriateness of both training methods?
Practically the time, money and application to solving the problems is high and is a necessity
Easier to take the pill
