Stress - Therapy Flashcards
Outline what is meant by drug therapy
Drug therapy involves taking drugs which have a chemical effect on the body, aiming in this case to reduce the physiological effects of stress.
Outline the action of Benzodiazepines (BZs)
BZs (such as diazepam) aim to reduce arousal in the CNS, by enhancing the body’s natural response to anxiety.
GABA is a neurotransmitter which inhibits neuronal activity. Activity of the post-synaptic neuron is lessened, meaning messages are less likely to be passed from one neuron to another.
BZs combine with GABA receptors on neurons to open the receptors, allowing chloride ions to flow in to the neuron.
This makes it more responsive to GABA and less responsive to other neurotransmitters, leading to a reduction of neural activity and a reduction of anxiety.
Outline the action of beta-blockers (BBs)
These act on the sympathetic nervous system and are working around the body, not just in the brain. In the stress response, hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline combine with ‘beta-adrenergic’ receptors on cells, leading to increased heart rate, blood pressure and so on.
BBs block these receptors, reducing the effect of the stress hormones.
This leads to lowered heart rates and reduced blood pressure.
Evaluate drug therapy in reducing stress - effective
Baldwin et al (2013) reviewed studies involving BZs or placebos, and found that BZs were significantly better at reducing anxiety. This suggests the chemical effect the drug is having works, so is an effective treatment for stress.
Kelly (1980) found that BBs are an effective treatment for everyday anxieties, and can be used to manage social anxiety disorder. This therefore supports the use of BBs to manage stress.
Evaluate drug therapy in treating stress - side effects
Drugs can have side effects, which can be quite serious. BZs are associated with drowsiness, weight gain, and even criminal behaviour in some cases. BBs are not suitable for people with severe depression or diabetes. Therefore, the use of drug therapy is limited, as the side effects may mean that many people may stop taking the medication.
Evaluate drug therapy in treating stress - cause
Drugs treat the physiological symptoms of stress, but do not address the cause, as when the drug is stopped the symptoms of stress reappear. Therefore, a psychological therapy may be a better long-term solution.
What is stress inoculation therapy?
Stress inoculation therapy (SIT) is a psychological method of stress management which aims to change the way a person thinks about or perceives a potentially stressful situation- so it is based on the cognitive approach.
Outline the three stages of stress inoculation therapy
Meichenbaum and Cameron (1973) identified three stages of SIT.
Conceptualisation phase: The client is educated about the causes and types of stress, and works with the therapist to identify particular stressors in their life. The aim is to get the client to see that stressors can be overcome, by accepting that they can change aspects of their situation (even if there are other aspects that can’t be changed).
Skills acquisition phase: The client is taught skills to cope with stressors. For example, relaxation, social skills, and cognitive restructuring - thinking about the stressor in a more positive way. They are taught to avoid negative thoughts and be more positive with themselves, and what to do when they face a stressful situation.
Real-life application phase: Having practiced the above skills, the client puts them into practice in a safe environment- for example through role-playing their response to a stressful situation. They may be set tasks to apply the techniques in mildly stressful situations. The client gradually takes more responsibility for this as time goes on. Any setbacks are cognitively restructured as ‘learning opportunities’ rather than ‘failures’. The client is encouraged to see things as in their control (an internal locus of control).
Evaluate SIT - meta-analysis
A meta-analysis of 37 studies found that SIT is effective for reducing anxiety and enhancing performance in situations such as exams. It was as effective for extreme anxiety as moderate anxiety. This supports the use of SIT in managing stress, and suggests it can be used in a range of situations.
Evaluate SIT - time consuming
SIT takes quite a lot of time and cognitive effort, as it involves fundamentally changing the way a person thinks. Clients need to be highly motivated to take part. This potentially weakens the use of SIT, as it may not be suitable for all people. Drug therapy, on the other hand, involves no effort besides remembering to take a pill.
Evaluate SIT - cause
Although SIT can be a difficult and involved therapy, the strength of this is that is can be used for future stressors, as the techniques and skills learned can be put into practice before a stressor can have an effect. This makes SIT more effective than drug therapy, for instance, as it is treating the causes of stress rather than just managing the physiological response.
