Stress Management: Drug Therapies

Question 1

What are the most prescribed benzodiazepines for anxiety and stress?

Answer 1

Librium and Valium

Question 2

How do benzodiazepines work?

Answer 2

They enhance the body’s natural form of anxiety relief (GABA). GABA slows down nerve cell activity which has a quieting influence on the brain. This causes relaxation by reducing tension in the muscles. GABA also reduces the activity of serotonin which reduces arousal.

Question 3

How do beta-blockers work?

Answer 3

They don’t enter the brain, but they directly reduce activity in pathways of the sympathetic nervous system. They reduce the activity of adrenaline and noradrenaline which are key agents in sympathetic arousal. As stress leads to arousal of the sympathetic nervous system (causing raised blood pressure, increased heart rate, etc.), beta-blockers can be effective in fighting these symptoms.

Question 4

What are the strengths of drug treatment for stress?

Answer 4

1. Research has shown it to be effective, e.g. Kahn found that BZs work better than placebos and Lockwood found that 27% of over 2000 musicians reported feeling better about their performance after taking BBs and music critics judged their performances as being better.
2. The therapy requires little effort from the patient. Drugs are easily available from GPs and can be prescribed immediately, where as SIT can have long waiting lists. They are fast acting, which is good as dangerous symptoms such as high blood pressure can be rapidly reduced.

Question 5

What are the limitations of drug therapy for stress?

Answer 5

1. Long-term usage of BZs can lead to psychological and physiological dependency. Withdrawal symptoms can be experienced by those who stop taking BZs after a long time.
2. Some prescribed drugs can have severe side effects. BZs can cause drowsiness and effect memory. However, newer drugs such as BBs seem to have fewer side effects - most people experience none at all.
3. Some psychologists argue that drug treatment only targets the symptoms of stress rather than the cause, so drugs are only a short-term solution as the cause is not being addressed and removed. Drugs are more effective in treating stress when used alongside therapy such as SIT.