Evaluation of Drug Therapy

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Evaluation of Drug Therapies
- Effectivness
  - Benzodiazepines are effective in reducing symptoms of panic.
  - Gelernter et al (1991) found them to be more effective than a placebo for social phobia
- Dangers of dependence
  - Benzodiazepines are an easy option for doctors to prescribe - but they have physical dependence.
  - Dependence leads to tremors and insomnia.
  - Linden et al. (1998) found that dependency started before drug treatment suggesting dependency is psychological
- Drugs treat the symptoms, not the cause
  - 90% relapse rate when benzodiazepine treatment is ceased
  - Biochemical imbalance is an effect, not a cause
- Costs v Benefits
  - Side effects
  - Dangers of accidental overdose (Heath Ledger)
- Combining drugs and psychological treatment
  - People with agoraphobia and social phobia cannot attend psychotherapy
Drugs treat the symptoms, not the cause
- 90% relapse rate when benzodiazepine treatment is ceased
- Biochemical imbalance is an effect, not a cause

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