Fainting on exposure to phobic stimuli. 1983

G C Curtis, and B Thyer

Two patients with phobias for medical procedures and trauma developed "vasovagal syncope" with hypotension and bradycardia while viewing a videotape of a venous cutdown. Eleven hours of exposure therapy per patient eliminated both the phobic and fainting responses. These facts support existing hypotheses that phobias of this type and vasovagal fainting are associated and that vasovagal syncope is a diphasic response. They do not support hypotheses that vasovagal syncope follows sudden cessation of anxiety, that that counter-conditioning is necessary for successful treatment, or that novel symptoms emerge following behavioral treatment of these phobias.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007022 Hypotension Abnormally low BLOOD PRESSURE that can result in inadequate blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Common symptom is DIZZINESS but greater negative impacts on the body occur when there is prolonged depravation of oxygen and nutrients. Blood Pressure, Low,Hypotension, Vascular,Low Blood Pressure,Vascular Hypotension
D007267 Injections Introduction of substances into the body using a needle and syringe. Injectables,Injectable,Injection
D008297 Male Males
D010698 Phobic Disorders Anxiety disorders in which the essential feature is persistent and irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that the individual feels compelled to avoid. The individual recognizes the fear as excessive or unreasonable. Claustrophobia,Neuroses, Phobic,Phobia, School,Phobias,Phobic Neuroses,Scolionophobia,Disorder, Phobic,Phobia,Phobic Disorder,School Phobia
D001919 Bradycardia Cardiac arrhythmias that are characterized by excessively slow HEART RATE, usually below 50 beats per minute in human adults. They can be classified broadly into SINOATRIAL NODE dysfunction and ATRIOVENTRICULAR BLOCK. Bradyarrhythmia,Bradyarrhythmias,Bradycardias
D003887 Desensitization, Psychologic A behavior therapy technique in which deep muscle relaxation is used to inhibit the effects of graded anxiety-evoking stimuli. Desensitization (Psychology),Desensitization, Psychological,Psychologic Desensitization,Psychological Desensitization,Desensitizations (Psychology)
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D013575 Syncope A transient loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by diminished blood flow to the brain (i.e., BRAIN ISCHEMIA). Presyncope refers to the sensation of lightheadedness and loss of strength that precedes a syncopal event or accompanies an incomplete syncope. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp367-9) Drop Attack,Fainting,Presyncope,Syncope, Postural,Syncopal Episode,Syncopal Vertigo,Syncope, Cardiogenic,Syncope, Carotid Sinus,Syncope, Convulsive,Syncope, Deglutitional,Syncope, Effort,Syncope, Hyperventilation,Syncope, Micturition,Syncope, Situational,Syncope, Stokes-Adams,Syncope, Tussive,Attack, Drop,Cardiogenic Syncope,Cardiogenic Syncopes,Carotid Sinus Syncope,Carotid Sinus Syncopes,Convulsive Syncope,Convulsive Syncopes,Deglutitional Syncope,Deglutitional Syncopes,Drop Attacks,Effort Syncope,Effort Syncopes,Episode, Syncopal,Hyperventilation Syncope,Hyperventilation Syncopes,Micturition Syncope,Micturition Syncopes,Postural Syncope,Postural Syncopes,Presyncopes,Situational Syncope,Situational Syncopes,Stokes-Adams Syncope,Stokes-Adams Syncopes,Syncopal Episodes,Syncope, Stokes Adams,Syncopes,Syncopes, Cardiogenic,Syncopes, Carotid Sinus,Syncopes, Convulsive,Syncopes, Deglutitional,Syncopes, Effort,Syncopes, Hyperventilation,Syncopes, Micturition,Syncopes, Postural,Syncopes, Situational,Syncopes, Stokes-Adams,Syncopes, Tussive,Tussive Syncope,Tussive Syncopes,Vertigo, Syncopal,Vertigos, Syncopal
D014743 Videotape Recording Recording of visual and sometimes sound signals on magnetic tape. Tape Recording, Video,Videotapes,Recording, Video Tape,Recording, Videotape,Recordings, Video Tape,Recordings, Videotape,Tape Recordings, Video,Video Tape Recording,Video Tape Recordings,Videotape,Videotape Recordings

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