There are many relaxation techniques for stress but in this essay it will look at two techniques: Biofeedback and Stress Inoculation Training.

by danielle7380 (student)

Stress

There are many relaxation techniques for stress but in this essay it will look at two techniques: Biofeedback and Stress Inoculation Training. Baynard, P (2002) believes “The principle behind biofeedback is that we gain control over bodily functions and actions if we are aware of what is happening”.

The three most commonly used forms of biofeedback therapy are Electromyography (EMG), which measures muscle tension, Neurofeedback or electroencephalography (EEG) which measures muscle brain wave activity and Thermal biofeedback, which measures skin temperature. Biofeedback is used for several conditions some of which include stress, anxiety, insomnia, blood pressure and ADHD.

During biofeedback, sensors are placed on the body. These sensors measure the bodily function that is causing the patient problem symptoms such as the muscle tension, heart rate, brain waves, respiration, blood pressure, and body temperature. It then translates the information into a visual and/or audible readout, for example a series of beeps or a light display. (MedicineNet, Publication unknown).

After recognising what situation is proving stressful a therapist finds a way to lower the results of the patient, by dealing with them differently through mental exercises and relaxation techniques. The feedback signals then reflect the achievement when a person manages to lower their blood pressure; this then encourages people to continue this method to hopefully continue the trend of lowering their blood pressure and other symptoms of the autonomic processes.

A common way in which biofeedback is used the patient is supplied with a handheld biofeedback monitor from their doctor. The Idea is to use the monitor when carrying out their normal duties at home. This is to enable the readings to have more ecological validity and so the chance of demand characteristics is limited. The aim during this biofeedback process is to recognise what thoughts, fears, and mental images influence their physical reactions and change the autonomic processes, and with these results establish if there is any correlation between certain activities and the readings. So the patient can then gain some control of the physiological readings with the combined relaxation technique. (Shepherd, P. Publication Unknown)

Biofeedback originates from In the 1950s and 60s. American experimental psychologist Neal E. Miller carried out varies experiments and looked at the physiological basis of human drives such as hunger, fear and curiosity; Miller was among the first scientists who conducted research on rats in which he stimulated rats' brains by using electricity or chemicals. (MedicineNet, Publication Unknown) Miller then decided to investigate other autonomic behaviors; he wanted to find out if they could also be modified through instrumental conditioning.

In 1961, Miller suggested that the autonomic nervous system responses could be adjusted under voluntary control. The autonomic nervous ...

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In 1961, Miller suggested that the autonomic nervous system responses could be adjusted under voluntary control. The autonomic nervous system controls the heart rate, blood pressure, gastrointestinal activity and regional blood flow. Results from his experiments proved the autonomic process was possibly controllable, these experiments led to the creation of biofeedback therapy. Research also preformed in the in the 1970s by Dr. Barry Sterman, established that brain wave patterns could be controlled when doing experiments on cats and monkeys, He then used his research techniques on human patients with epilepsy. He found through the biofeedback technique that epilepsy in patients was reduced by 60%. Since the early work of Miller and Sterman, biofeedback has developed into a leading behavioural treatment for a wide range of disorders and symptoms, For example stress relief. Ford-Martin (2005)

Russell Barkley is an ADHD researcher he claims biofeedback doesn’t work when talking about Neurofeedback and how it applies to ADHD patients he says:

“Case studies prove nothing because they're totally uncontrolled. There's an aura of medical intervention here. High technology in a medical environment has a high placebo effect…. It's not the equipment. It's the exercises, the mental exercises they are telling these kids to do. (Some kids may be getting better) with maturation alone…and some kids don't have ADD." This statement accuses the results of being down to combined relaxation techniques and not biofeedback alone. Despite there being continuous research showing the treatment is more effective when Biofeedback is used in conjunction than when just a relaxation technique is used.

Furthermore a patient having a monitor at home would save time than having costly meetings with therapists to monitor their progress and be more effective, but as the monitors are expensive they are not readily available to everyone because of this. There may also be a delay in deciding who is entitled for the monitors and patients more in need may be neglected.

Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) is a cognitive-behavioural approach for stress management. The word Inoculation is known in medical terms as when patients are given a weak dose of a disease, to build their immune system and defences, so that when they catch the disease at full strength the body is prepared. This is where the name Stress Inoculation came from, as it is a similar technique to prepare a person for stress. Meichenbaum, (1977) developed this technique as a way to teach coping skills to people at risk of developing Stress, anxiety and depression. (Baynard, P 2002)

There are three phases to SIT to be used from a therapist to a patient. Firstly is the conceptualisation phase, the therapist talks and educates about the general different natures of stress. The patient is encouraged to acknowledge that people often make their stress worse from bad coping habits and strategies, Banyard, P (2002). In this stage the therapist should also work on ways to develop a clear understanding of the type of stressors the patient is likely to be facing. (Mills, 2008).

The second phase of SIT is the skills acquisition and rehearsal stage. The patient is taught a basic understanding of cognitive and behavioural skills for coping in stressful situations, (Banyard, P 2002). The choice of skills taught is essential to be tailored to each individual and their needs, strengths and weaknesses, if it is to be effective. (Mills, 2008)

Application and follow through is the final SIT phase, the therapist tries to find ways of providing the patient with situations to practice the coping skills; originally gained within the first two stages. These situations could be real life, visualisation exercises, modelling or even role-play. The therapist tries to do this by a gradual progression of the situations to more threatening in preparation for real life situations. (Mills, 2008).

(As cited in Banyard, P 2002) Zeigler et al.’s (1982) study of cross-country runners showed that stress inoculation was useful in reducing stress and improving performance so it is shown that with evidence this method seems to be successful. Booher J and Thibodeau G (1985) concludes after looking at two case studies, “It can be argued, therefore, that while the present observations do not establish unequivocally stress inoculation as the instrument of change in this context, they are certainly consistent with the view that it is a useful technique both for reducing anxiety and augmenting performance in certain competitive sports.” With this statement it could be seen that SIT is the cause for reducing anxiety but there is no actual proof just a link.

The conclusion is that with the evaluation of biofeedback and Stress inoculation there is different views on whether these techniques are successful. There is research for, and against both. It has been shown within biofeedback you would need to combine the therapy with a cognitive-behavioural approach like stress inoculation training for more success.

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Bibliography

Booher J and Thibodeau G . (1985). Stress Inoculation Training to Control Anxiety in Sport: Two Case Studies In Squash. In: Athletic Injury Assessment. Oxford: Times Mirror/Mosby College. 115-117.

Baynard, P (March 2002). Psychology in practice. Place of Publication unknown: Hodder Education. 87-88

Ford-Martin, P. (2005). Biofeedback. Available: http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/biofeedback. Last accessed 2 January 2009.

MedicineNet. (Publication Unknown). Definition of Biofeedback. Available: http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=10810. Last accessed 2 January 2009.

Mills, H ET El. (June 30th 2008). Stress Inoculation Therapy. Available: http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=15683&cn=117. Last accessed 2 January 2009.

Shepherd, P. (Publication Unknown). The Biofeedback Monitor. Available: http://www.trans4mind.com/transformation/gsr.htm. Last accessed 2 January 2009.

Tull, M. (November 06, 2008). Overview of Cognitive Behavioural Treatments for PTSD. Available: http://ptsd.about.com/od/treatment/a/PTSDtreatments.htm. Last accessed 2 January 2009.