Verified Document

Drugs On Stress Perception And Stress Adaptation Term Paper

It was found that academic exam stress caused significant increases in PSS and STAI scores, which were related to high levels of serum, significantly more so in males than females, who only had an increase in serum sgp130 when taking birth control drugs. Males were found to have significantly more serum sCD8. The results suggest that psychological stress induces immune-inflammatory changes with complex regulatory responses in IL-6 signaling, decreased anti-inflammatory capacity of serum and interactions with T-cell and monocytic activation. The results of this study also suggest that sex hormones may modify stress-induced immune-inflammatory responses (Song et al. p. 293). Anxiolytic drugs of the benzodiazepine class and other drugs that affect catecholamine, GABAA, histamine and serotonin receptors, alter the stress response and regulate stress hormone secretion. It has been shown that exposure to hostile conditions induces lowered immune system and cardiovascular responses, as well as neural circuits and neurotransmitter system responses. It also initiates the secretion of several hormones, including corticosterone/cortisol, catecholamines, prolactin, oxytocin, and renin, as part of the survival mechanism (Van de Kar, p. 1). In each of these the three manifestations of stress, external, internal and psychological "stressors," there are hormones released in response to the stressors referred to as stress hormones, which are regulated by neural circuits from hypothalamic neurons that are the final output toward the pituitary gland and the kidneys. The forebrain has circuits mediating neuroendocrine responses to stressors and emphasizing neuroendocrine systems that have previously received little attention as stress-sensitive hormones: renin, oxytocin, and prolactin. Anxiolytic drugs of the benzodiazepine class and other drugs, alter the stress response and stress hormone secretion (Van de Kar, p. 1).

Steven Harris, a theoretician on brain activity, believes that any medication of the brain is ultimately damaging and creates stress and damage to the delicate pathways in the brain. Medications as they now exist, cause increased stress to the system. The current model of targeting a symptom, while ignoring the side effects that may be more damaging, he believes, is wrong. Drugs, as far as Harris is concerned, create stress, eventual damage and...

(Harris, para. 5).
Conclusion

While studies have been consistent in showing that medications have an effect on the brain under stress, stress perception may be altered by circuitously avoiding the effects of normal neurotransmissions by inducing the ability maintain serotonin, such as in ecstasy and Prozac. Stress may be adapted to by the use of other drugs, such as Inderal, allowing the body to function as it would normally would under stress-free situations, by altering the response to stress in the brain. However, it has always been noted that there are variables, such as hormones, gender and newly discovered neuroendocrine systems that respond to stressors that affect the effect of drugs in sometimes predictable ways.

DeNoon, D. (2005). Drug counters mental effect of stress. Annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Washington: Ohio State University. Retrieved at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/517206.

Harris, S.M. (2005). Unified theory of the nervous system and behavior. Retrieved at http://www.stevenharris.com/theory/139.html.

Maes, M., Song, C., Lin, a., deJohng, R., van Gastel, a, Kenis, G., et al. (1999). The effects of psychological stress on humans: increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a th1-like response in stress-induced anxiety. Clinical Research Center for Mental Health. Antwerp, Belgium. Retrieved at http://paperairplane.mit.edu/16.423J/Space/SBE/projects/Immunology/REFERENC/MAES1998.PDF.

Song, C, Kenis, G., van Gastel, a., Bosmans, E., Lin, a., de Jong, R., Neels, H., Scharpe, et al. (1999). Influence of psychological stress on immune-inflammatory variables in normal humans. Part II. Altered serum concentrations of natural anti-inflammatory agents and soluble membrane antigens of monocytes and T. lymphocytes. Psychiatry Research, Vol. 85, 3. Retrieved at http://www.psy-journal.com/article/PIIS0165178199000128/abstract.

Tait, M. (2007). Music 'enhances ecstasy effects.' Focus. Retrieved at http://www.geocities.com/Omegaman_UK/drugs.html.

Van de Kar, L.D., Blair, M.L. (1999). Forebrain pathways mediating stress-induced hormone secretion. PubMed: A service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Chicago: Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine.

Sources used in this document:
Song, C, Kenis, G., van Gastel, a., Bosmans, E., Lin, a., de Jong, R., Neels, H., Scharpe, et al. (1999). Influence of psychological stress on immune-inflammatory variables in normal humans. Part II. Altered serum concentrations of natural anti-inflammatory agents and soluble membrane antigens of monocytes and T. lymphocytes. Psychiatry Research, Vol. 85, 3. Retrieved at http://www.psy-journal.com/article/PIIS0165178199000128/abstract.

Tait, M. (2007). Music 'enhances ecstasy effects.' Focus. Retrieved at http://www.geocities.com/Omegaman_UK/drugs.html.

Van de Kar, L.D., Blair, M.L. (1999). Forebrain pathways mediating stress-induced hormone secretion. PubMed: A service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Chicago: Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Stress Evaluation and Intervention Proposal
Words: 4304 Length: 12 Document Type: Dissertation or Thesis complete

Stress Management Stress Evaluation and Intervention Proposal Stress Management in Public Safety Organizations Public safety organizations are one of the most important components of any society as they are responsible to provide support and assistance to the community in times of crisis. The employees of such organization however are always exposed to stressful situations and they need to be mentally and emotionally strong to take the challenge, deal with it and help other

Stress Reaction and Its Pathophysiology
Words: 2406 Length: 4 Document Type: Research Paper

Pathophysiology of Stress Reaction Stress may be defined as the physiological reaction of the human body which acts as the mediation mechanism, connecting a particular stressor with its associated target- organ effect. In this paper, the physiological and anatomical bases of our body’s stress response will be described, within the bounds of historical bases and analyses, theories and latest research outcomes, through (1) tracing psychophysiological effector processes actually representing the above-

Study of Workplace Stress Factors
Words: 4615 Length: 10 Document Type: Term Paper

Stress in the Workplace The research topic under discussion is Stress at Workplace. Stress comes with different definitions, one of which is that stress is a 'physical, chemical or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension.' Emotional stress relates to job burnout, tension and strain and many scholars have called it a psychological process and linked it with the individual and the situation that he is in (American Psychological Association,

Teen Drug Abuse - Prescription or Not
Words: 5056 Length: 16 Document Type: Term Paper

Teen Drug Abuse - Prescription or Not Differences between nonalcoholic offspring of alcoholics (family history positive, FHP) and matched offspring of nonalcoholics (family history negative, FHN) have been identified on a variety of behavioral, cognitive, and neurological measures. Compared to FHN teens, FHP adolescents and young adults demonstrate more disturbed school careers, impulsivity, rebelliousness, and nonconformity (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2006); poorer neuropsychological performance (Worden & Slater, 2009);

Workplace Drug Testing and Invasion
Words: 2001 Length: 6 Document Type: Thesis

Men and women are valued for their role as workers -- workers not merely at a given company -- but workers who form part of a larger industrial/technological organism that is the national, and increasingly, the global economy. Rights of privacy give way to rights of public utility: People want, not only profits, efficiency, and productivity, but also security. In order to feel safer, we willingly surrender some of our

Unresolved Stress/Corrections Unmitigated and Unresolved
Words: 6020 Length: 13 Document Type: Thesis

Our findings show that social and psychological aspects of work situations are indeed significant risk factors for coronary heart disease, but not in the manner that might initially be supposed. While the psychological demands of work, along with time pressures and conflicts, are found to be significant sources of risk in many of our studies, work that is demanding (within limits) is not the major source of risk. The primary

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now