Stress inoculation training incorporates several of the specific therapies already
described. This procedure was developed by Meichenbaum. Stress inoculation
training is analogous to being inoculated against disease. That is,
it prepares patients to deal with stress-inducing events by teaching them to
use coping skills at low levels of the stressful situation and then gradually to
cope with more and more stressful situations. Stress inoculation training involves
three phases: conceptualization, skills acquisition and rehearsal, and
application and follow-through.
In the conceptualization phase of stress inoculation training, patients are
given an adaptive way of viewing and understanding their negative reactions
to stressful events. In the skills-acquisition and rehearsal phase, patients
learn coping skills appropriate to the type of stress they are experiencing.
With interpersonal anxiety, a patient might develop skills that would make
the feared situation less threatening (for example, learning to initiate and
maintain conversations). The patient might also learn deep muscle relaxation
to lessen tension. In cases of anger, patients learn to view potential
provocations as problems that require a solution rather than as threats that
require an attack. Patients are also taught to rehearse alternative strategies
for solving the problem at hand.
The application and follow-through phase of stress inoculation training
involves the patients practicing and applying the coping skills. Initially, patients
are exposed to low levels of stressful situations in imagery. They practice
applying their coping skills to handle the stressful events, and they
overtly role-play dealing with stressful events. Next, patients are given homework
assignments that involve gradual exposure to actual stressful events in
his or her everyday life. Stress inoculation training has been effectively applied
to many types of problems. It has been used to help people cope with
anger, anxiety, fear, pain, and health-related problems (for example, cancer
and hypertension). It appears to be suitable for all age levels. 168
it prepares patients to deal with stress-inducing events by teaching them to
use coping skills at low levels of the stressful situation and then gradually to
cope with more and more stressful situations. Stress inoculation training involves
three phases: conceptualization, skills acquisition and rehearsal, and
application and follow-through.
In the conceptualization phase of stress inoculation training, patients are
given an adaptive way of viewing and understanding their negative reactions
to stressful events. In the skills-acquisition and rehearsal phase, patients
learn coping skills appropriate to the type of stress they are experiencing.
With interpersonal anxiety, a patient might develop skills that would make
the feared situation less threatening (for example, learning to initiate and
maintain conversations). The patient might also learn deep muscle relaxation
to lessen tension. In cases of anger, patients learn to view potential
provocations as problems that require a solution rather than as threats that
require an attack. Patients are also taught to rehearse alternative strategies
for solving the problem at hand.
The application and follow-through phase of stress inoculation training
involves the patients practicing and applying the coping skills. Initially, patients
are exposed to low levels of stressful situations in imagery. They practice
applying their coping skills to handle the stressful events, and they
overtly role-play dealing with stressful events. Next, patients are given homework
assignments that involve gradual exposure to actual stressful events in
his or her everyday life. Stress inoculation training has been effectively applied
to many types of problems. It has been used to help people cope with
anger, anxiety, fear, pain, and health-related problems (for example, cancer
and hypertension). It appears to be suitable for all age levels. 168
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