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Behavioural and Subjective Effects of Beta-Adrenergic Blockade in Phobic Subjects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

M. W. Bernadt ,
T. Silverstone  and
W. Singleton
M. W. Bernadt*
Affiliation:
Academic Unit of Human Psychopharmacology, Medical Colleges of St. Bartholomew's and The London Hospitals, German Hospital, Ritson Road, London E8 1DF
T. Silverstone*
Affiliation:
Academic Unit of Human Psychopharmacology, Medical Colleges of St. Bartholomew's and The London Hospitals, German Hospital, Ritson Road, London E8 1DF
W. Singleton
Affiliation:
Pfizer Central Research, Pfizer A/S, Vestre Gade 18, Dk-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
*
∗Now Research Worker, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 9AF.
†Reprint requests.
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Summary

It has been suggested that reversal of stress-induced tachycardia by beta-adrenergic blockade might be of benefit in the treatment of phobias. This was tested in a double-blind cross-over trial by exposing 22 female volunteers with spider or snake phobias to their phobic object 1 ½ hours after administration of either tolamolol 200 mg, diazepam 10 mg or placebo. Although tolamolol abolished the stress-induced tachycardia, it had no beneficial behavioural or subjective effects. In contrast, diazepam, which had no significant effect on heart rate, improved behavioural performance. Subjective measures were more influenced by order effect than by medication.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 137 , Issue 5 , November 1980 , pp. 452 - 457
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1980 

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