Drug therapies

• What is a strength of using drug therapies to treat stress?

  Research has found it to be highly effective.
• What did Kahn et al. (1986) find regarding BZs?

  BZs were significantly superior to a placebo for treating anxiety and stress.
• How many patients did Kahn et al. (1986) follow in their study?

  Nearly 250 patients.
• Why is reducing feelings of anxiety and stress important?

  It can help improve the quality of people’s lives.
• What is the significance of drug therapies in treating stress?

  • Highly effective according to research
  • Can improve quality of life by reducing anxiety and stress
  • Useful form of therapy
•  A strength of using drug therapies for stress is that the therapy requires little

  effort from the user.

   Other therapies, for example, stress inoculation therapy requires a lot of

  time, effort and motivation on the part of the client if it is to be effective

  [you can write more about it here once we’ve covered it].

   This matters because drug therapy is much easier than other therapies that

  require much more time and effort.

   Therefore, patients are likely to take the option of a quick drug therapy

  rather than months of psychological training.
• What did Schweizer et al. (1991) find about beta blockers before an arithmetic test?

  Beta blockers reduced heart rate compared to a placebo.
• Did beta blockers reduce participants’ subjective sense of stress according to Schweizer et al. (1991)?

  No, they did not reduce participants’ subjective sense of stress.
• What is a weakness of using drug therapies to treat stress?

  Using drugs can lead to issues with addiction, especially with BZs.
• How long ago were BZs first introduced?

  Over 40 years ago.
• Why were BZs introduced to replace barbiturates?

  Barbiturates tended to be addictive and caused withdrawal symptoms.
• What happens to patients when they stop taking BZs?

  Patients show marked withdrawal symptoms.
• What is the recommendation regarding the use of BZs?

  Use of BZs should be limited to a maximum of four weeks.
• What did Donoghue and Lader (2010) find about BZs?

  BZs continue to be used as long-term treatments despite dangers.
• What should doctors do when prescribing BZs?

  Doctors should be cautious and monitor the possibility of addiction.
• What is a weakness of using drug therapies to treat stress?

  They can lead to serious side effects.
• What are 'paradoxical' symptoms in the context of drug therapies for stress?

  They are symptoms that are the opposite of what might be expected.
• What are some examples of side effects from drug therapies for stress?

  Increased agitation, panic, aggressiveness, and cognitive side effects.
• What cognitive side effect is particularly noted in drug therapies for stress?

  Impairment of memory, especially the ability to store information in long-term memory.
• Why does the potential for cognitive side effects matter in drug therapies for stress?

  Because taking drugs may do more harm than good for the patient.
• What conclusion can be drawn about the usefulness of drug therapies for stress?

  They may not be as useful as once thought.
• What have researchers found regarding beta blockers and side effects?

  Most people who take beta blockers do not experience any side effects.