Discuss Drug Therapy as a method of managing stress
One method of managing stress is drug therapy and there are 2 types: benzodiazepines (BZs) and Beta
Blockers. BZs (e.g Valium and Xanax) lessen the anxiety associated with stress by quickly reducing the
physiological arousal in the central nervous system. GABA (Gamma amino-butyric acid) is a neurotransmitter
that inhibits the activity of neurons in most areas of the brain. During synaptic transmission, GABA binds to the
GABA-A receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, but BZs enhance the action of GABA and bind to special sites
on the GABA receptors. This opens an ion channel which allows chloride ions to enter the postsynaptic
neuron, making it difficult for the neuron to be stimulated by other neurotransmitters, slowing down the
neuron’s activity. This allows more chloride ions to enter the neuron, making it more responsive to the
inhibitory effects of GABA and less responsive to other neurotransmitters. The outcome is inhibition of activity
throughout the central nervous system and reduction of anxiety (stress).
On the other hand, beta blockers (e.g propranolol) reduce anxiety without altering consciousness because
they don't operate directly on the brain. These drugs act on the sympathetic nervous system to reduce
sympathetic arousal. When stressed, adrenaline and noradrenaline circulate the bloodstream and bind to beta-
adrenergic receptors throughout the cardiovascular system, leading to increased heart rate and blood
pressure. But beta blockers block the beta-adrenergic receptor and stop the receptors being stimulated by
adrenaline and noradrenaline. This slows heart rate and reduces blood pressure, so the person feels less
anxious (stressed).
One strength of drug therapies in treating stress is that there is research to support the use. For example, a
recent review of studies by Baldwin found that BZs are significantly more effective than a placebo in treating
acute anxiety, but some BZs are more effective than others, so BZs may not be the first choice of drug therapy
for most people given the risk of dependency. However, Desmond found that beta blockers were effective for
treating everyday anxieties associated with public speaking, exam stress etc, as they reduce arousal so they
can prevent further anxiety from developing. This suggests that drug therapies are effective in treating the
main psychological component of stress.
A limitation of drug therapies is that they may not be appropriate for everyone. BZs have well known side
effects such as drowsiness, weight gain, respiration problems etc. beta blockers can reduce heart rate and
blood pressure in some patients too, and they are not considered suitable for people with diabetes or severe
depression. This means that drug therapies may not be suitable treatment as in some cases they may worsen
the symptoms rather than help the person. In addition, when side effects occur there is a danger that the
patient will stop taking the drug and symptoms of anxiety will occur. Therefore patients will not complete the
full course and the effectiveness of drug therapies is reduced
Another weakness is that drug therapy only treats the symptoms. For example, drug therapies are nomothetic,
the same drug can be given to different patients with different symptoms. Each individual has unique stressors
and levels of anxiety, so drug therapy only focuses on reducing symptoms of stress (anxiety) and giving
patients short term relief. Drug therapy doesn’t attempt to treat the root causes of stress so it is an
inappropriate treatment for chronic stressors. This suggests that perhaps an idiographic form of treatment may
be more appropriate such as stress inoculation therapy because they are tailored to the individual patient, and
it addresses the root cause not symptoms.
Discuss Stress Inoculation Therapy (SIT) as a method of managing stress
One method of managing stress is stress inoculation therapy (SIT) which is a cognitive behavioural therapy
focusing on how we think about stress and to help individuals develop coping mechanisms. Meichenbaum and
Cameron identified phases of SIT which focus on practical steps needed to help the client, but the phases are
not completely distinct or in order and there may be some overlap or going backwards before moving on. The
One method of managing stress is drug therapy and there are 2 types: benzodiazepines (BZs) and Beta
Blockers. BZs (e.g Valium and Xanax) lessen the anxiety associated with stress by quickly reducing the
physiological arousal in the central nervous system. GABA (Gamma amino-butyric acid) is a neurotransmitter
that inhibits the activity of neurons in most areas of the brain. During synaptic transmission, GABA binds to the
GABA-A receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, but BZs enhance the action of GABA and bind to special sites
on the GABA receptors. This opens an ion channel which allows chloride ions to enter the postsynaptic
neuron, making it difficult for the neuron to be stimulated by other neurotransmitters, slowing down the
neuron’s activity. This allows more chloride ions to enter the neuron, making it more responsive to the
inhibitory effects of GABA and less responsive to other neurotransmitters. The outcome is inhibition of activity
throughout the central nervous system and reduction of anxiety (stress).
On the other hand, beta blockers (e.g propranolol) reduce anxiety without altering consciousness because
they don't operate directly on the brain. These drugs act on the sympathetic nervous system to reduce
sympathetic arousal. When stressed, adrenaline and noradrenaline circulate the bloodstream and bind to beta-
adrenergic receptors throughout the cardiovascular system, leading to increased heart rate and blood
pressure. But beta blockers block the beta-adrenergic receptor and stop the receptors being stimulated by
adrenaline and noradrenaline. This slows heart rate and reduces blood pressure, so the person feels less
anxious (stressed).
One strength of drug therapies in treating stress is that there is research to support the use. For example, a
recent review of studies by Baldwin found that BZs are significantly more effective than a placebo in treating
acute anxiety, but some BZs are more effective than others, so BZs may not be the first choice of drug therapy
for most people given the risk of dependency. However, Desmond found that beta blockers were effective for
treating everyday anxieties associated with public speaking, exam stress etc, as they reduce arousal so they
can prevent further anxiety from developing. This suggests that drug therapies are effective in treating the
main psychological component of stress.
A limitation of drug therapies is that they may not be appropriate for everyone. BZs have well known side
effects such as drowsiness, weight gain, respiration problems etc. beta blockers can reduce heart rate and
blood pressure in some patients too, and they are not considered suitable for people with diabetes or severe
depression. This means that drug therapies may not be suitable treatment as in some cases they may worsen
the symptoms rather than help the person. In addition, when side effects occur there is a danger that the
patient will stop taking the drug and symptoms of anxiety will occur. Therefore patients will not complete the
full course and the effectiveness of drug therapies is reduced
Another weakness is that drug therapy only treats the symptoms. For example, drug therapies are nomothetic,
the same drug can be given to different patients with different symptoms. Each individual has unique stressors
and levels of anxiety, so drug therapy only focuses on reducing symptoms of stress (anxiety) and giving
patients short term relief. Drug therapy doesn’t attempt to treat the root causes of stress so it is an
inappropriate treatment for chronic stressors. This suggests that perhaps an idiographic form of treatment may
be more appropriate such as stress inoculation therapy because they are tailored to the individual patient, and
it addresses the root cause not symptoms.
Discuss Stress Inoculation Therapy (SIT) as a method of managing stress
One method of managing stress is stress inoculation therapy (SIT) which is a cognitive behavioural therapy
focusing on how we think about stress and to help individuals develop coping mechanisms. Meichenbaum and
Cameron identified phases of SIT which focus on practical steps needed to help the client, but the phases are
not completely distinct or in order and there may be some overlap or going backwards before moving on. The
