Treatment & Management of Addiction & Stress

Question 1

What is biofeedback?

Answer 1

A method of stress management that turns physiological processes like the heart rate into signal the client learns to control.

Question 2

What are the three biofeedback phases?

Answer 2

Phase 1 - Client is connected to the machine, and is showing how the raising and decreasing heart rate mechanic works.

Phase 2 - Relaxation training feedback helps the client learn how to adjust their breathing to make the signal move in the desired direction. The therapist also helps the client to tense and specific muscle groups. Uses OC to give positive feedback.

Phase 3 - The client transfers these skills outside the therapy room.

Question 3

What is a strength of biofeedback?

Answer 3

It lacks side effects, so people are more likely to continue doing it as they have no reason not to.

Question 4

What is a weakness of biofeedback?

Answer 4

Requires lots of effort and motivation, taking around twenty sessions that last an hour. Lots of commitment!

Question 5

What is social support?

Answer 5

The people around us make up a social network, so people with a smaller network have more closer friends to help them. This is the opposite for people with larger networks.

Question 6

What is instrumental support?

Answer 6

Practical help, which could be carrying something for someone or giving them a lift to somewhere they need to go like the hospital.

Question 7

What is emotional support?

Answer 7

This is about feelings, it is not practical is about being a shoulder to lie on during tough times.

Question 8

What is esteem support?

Answer 8

Support which has someone boosting the self-efficacy of someone by giving them confidence by expressing it.

Question 9

Why is social support so good?

Answer 9

It creates a buffer zone for negative effects of stress, and is beneficial at all times.

Question 10

What is the strength of social support?

Answer 10

Cohen et al. (2015) found that effects of emotional support can reduce the risk of becoming ill, even when stressed.

Question 11

What is the negative of social support?

Answer 11

It can backfire and have negative effects because it depends on who provides it. If the receiver doesn’t WANT it, the support will not work.

Question 12

What is physiological treatment?

Answer 12

Treatments for stress and addiction why are taken in the form of drugs.

Question 13

What is an aversive?

Answer 13

A drug that produces aversive consequences such as vomiting. Used for aversion therapy.

Question 14

What is an agonist?

Answer 14

A drug substitute which attaches to receptors on neurones to produce a similar effect to a drug of addition. A less harmful replacement.

Question 15

What is an antagonist?

Answer 15

Drug which attaches to neurone receptors and blocks them, so an addictive drug’s effects are nullified.

Question 16

What is nicotine replacement therapy?

Answer 16

Nicotine’s most common treatment, provides the effects via gum, inhalers and patches. Excludes harmful chemicals in NRT.

Question 17

What are the “Over the Counter” (OTC) remedies for stress and why are they good?

Answer 17

Valerian, Chamomile & Lavender. They are good due to them being easily accessible and natural, but they have little side effects.

Question 18

What is a strength of physiological treatments?

Answer 18

Stead et al. (2012) conducted a review on NRTs and found they were all more effective than placebo, so they’re all more effective.

Question 19

What is a weakness of physiological treatments?

Answer 19

Harmful side effects such as dizziness, stomach problems and sleep disturbances can happen if these are taken. Plus, drugs which help with gambling addictions such as naloxone need high doses to be effective so side effects will be more common.

Question 20

What is Stress Inoculation Training? (SIT)

Answer 20

A stress management technique used to develop coping skills, then expose the individuals to anxiety to practice it.

Question 21

What are the phases of SIT?

Answer 21

Phase 1 - Client has their stressors identified and are told to see them as challenges rather than threats. It may be broken down to make easier to cope.

Phase 2 - Client learns the skills they need to cope with stress, which they practice in the therapy clinic.

Phase 3 - They transfer what they learn into the real world via homework tasks. The experience is discussed with therapists to see if there’s development. They’re told setbacks are inevitable.

Question 22

What is a strength of Stress Inoculation Training (SIT)?

Answer 22

It has received support from many studies that found that students that took part in SIT were less stressed than those on a waiting list.