Biodiazenphines

• Benzodiazapines

  -bind to GABA receptor sites which causes chloride ions to enter which are negatively changer which lowers voltage. This makes the neuron less responsive to effects of excitatory neurotransmitters. This results in relaxing and anti-anxiety effect in the central nervous system.
• Research support - Baldwin

  -Randomised controlled double-blind procedure. Found that BZ's were significantly more effective in managing stress than placebo.

  -Use of RCDB procedure increases scientific support of BZ's as a way of managing stress.
• +Economic benefits

  -Drugs are self-administered.

  -Compared to other forms of treatment like CBT where trained professionals are needed and patient needs time of work to go to the sessions.
• Short-term vs long-term stress management

  -allows to manage unpleasant, physiological symptoms associated with stress.

  -Immediate temporary relief but does not treat the stress trigger.

  -Long-term use of drug therapies may result in dependency which wouldn't occur if it was naturally treated using CBT.
• Side effects

  -Drowsiness, weight gain and respiratory issues.

  -If patients experience side effects, they may think they are worse than the actual stress that the drugs were used to treat. This means they will stop taking them. -BZ's are very addictive which may result in physical and psychological dependency.