Abstract
Background
Behavior modification, as the core of clinical behavioral medicine, is often used in clinical settings.
Purpose
We seek to summarize behavior modification techniques that are commonly used in clinical practice of behavioral medicine in China and discuss possible biobehavioral mechanisms.
Methods
We reviewed common behavior modification techniques in clinical settings in China, and we reviewed studies that explored possible biobehavioral mechanisms.
Results
Commonly used clinical approaches of behavior modification in China include behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, cognitive–behavioral therapy, health education, behavior management, behavioral relaxation training, stress management intervention, desensitization therapy, biofeedback therapy, and music therapy. These techniques have been applied in the clinical treatment of a variety of diseases, such as chronic diseases, psychosomatic diseases, and psychological disorders. The biobehavioral mechanisms of these techniques involve the autonomic nervous system, neuroendocrine system, neurobiochemistry, and neuroplasticity.
Conclusion
Behavior modification techniques are commonly used in the treatment of a variety of somatic and psychological disorders in China. Multiple biobehavioral mechanisms are involved in successful behavior modification.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Yang ZY, Yang Z, Zhu L, Qiu C. Human behaviors determine health: strategic thoughts on the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases in China. Int J Behav Med. 2011;18:295–301.
Paine P, Kishor J, Worthen SF, Gregory LJ, Aziz Q. Exploring relationships for visceral and somatic pain with autonomic control and personality. Pain. 2009;144:236–44.
Ebben MR, Spielman AJ. Non-pharmacological treatments for insomnia. J Behav Med. 2009;32:244–54.
Liu G, Zhu Q, Guo Y, Wang L. Research progress on respiratory biofeedback. Chin J Biomed Eng. 2011;30:620–6. In Chinese.
Zhang M, Huang J, Lin J. Biofeedback and relaxation therapy in the treatment of anxiety of patients with primary hypertension. J Lingnan Cardiovasc Dis. 2007;13:270–2. In Chinese.
Zhang J, Xu C. The mechanisms of music therapy and its application. J Xinxiang Med College. 2011;28:788–91. In Chinese.
Papadopoulos AS, Cleare AJ. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2011;8:22–32.
Williams RB. Psychosocial and biobehavioral factors and their interplay in coronary heart disease. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2008;4:349–65.
Surdea-Blaga T, Băban A, Dumitrascu DL. Psychosocial determinants of irritable bowel syndrome. World J Gastroenterol. 2012;18:616–26.
Ye J, Chen D. The relationship between psychological factors and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Chin J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010;19:475–7. In Chinese.
Wang X. Lifestyle intervention plus behavior therapy in the prognosis of patients with non-alcoholic fatty live disorders. J Pract Med. 2011;27:1831–3. In Chinese.
Cruess DG, Antoni MH, McGregor BA, Kilbourn KM, Boyers AE, Alferi SM, et al. Cognitive-behavioral stress management reduces serum cortisol by enhancing benefit finding among women being treated for early stage breast cancer. Psychosom Med. 2000;62:304–8.
Antoni MH, Lehman JM, Kilbourn KM, Boyers AE, Culver JL, Alferi SM, et al. Cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention decreases the prevalence of depression and enhances benefit finding among women under treatment for early-stage breast cancer. Health Psychol. 2001;20:20–32.
Raballo M, Trevisan M, Trinetta AF, Charrier L, Cavallo F, Porta M, et al. A study of patients’ perceptions of diabetes care delivery and diabetes: propositional analysis in people with type 1 and 2 diabetes managed by group or usual care. Diabetes Care. 2012;35:242–7.
Trento M, Kucich C, Tibaldi P, Gennari S, Tedesco S, Balbo M, et al. A study of central serotoninergic activity in healthy subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes treated by traditional one-to-one care or Group Care. J Endocrinol Investig. 2010;33:624–8.
Liu X, Liu G, Ma J. Biological mechanisms of psychological treatment to alleviate depression. J Int Psychiatry. 2011;38:260–2. In Chinese.
Jeong YJ, Hong SC, Lee MS, Park MC, Kim YK, Suh CM. Dance movement therapy improves emotional response and modulates neurohormones in adolescents with mild depression. Int J Neurosci. 2005;115:1711–20.
Jockers-Scherübl MC, Zubraegel D, Baer T, Linden M, Danker-Hopfe H, Schulte-Herbrüggen O, et al. Nerve growth factor serum concentrations rise after successful cognitive-behavioral therapy of generalized anxiety disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2007;31:200–4.
Wang FJ, Shi X, Luo Y-X, Xiang H-J, Liu F. A survey on anxiety and depression in patients with cardiovascular diseases in a general hospital. Chin J Cardiovasc Rehabil Med. 2011;20:313–5. In Chinese.
Zuo X, Yang J, Yu D, Xu J. Mirtazyapine hydrochloride for depression in patients with cardiovascular diseases: a randomized controlled trial. Chin J Health Psychol. 2010;18:1309–10. In Chinese.
Kazdin AE. Understanding how and why psychotherapy leads to change. Psychother Res. 2009;19:418–28.
Bai B, Ji F. Behavioral medicine in China: history, current status, and future development. Int J Behav Med. 2013 Dec 18. Epub ahead of print]. Doi 10.1007/s12529-013-9331-0.
Goldapple K, Segal Z, Garson C, Lau M, Bieling P, Kennedy S, et al. Modulation of cortical-limbic pathways in major depression: treatment-specific effects of cognitive behavior therapy. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004;61:34–41.
Buchheim A, Viviani R, Kessler H, Kächele H, Cierpka M, Roth G, et al. Changes in prefrontal-limbic function in major depression after 15 months of long-term psychotherapy. PLoS ONE. 2012;7:e33745.
de Lange FP, Koers A, Kalkman JS, Bleijenberg G, Hagoort P, van der Meer JW, et al. Increase in prefrontal cortical volume following cognitive behavioural therapy in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Brain. 2008;131:2172–80.
Huang G, Luo S. The basic mechanisms of psychotherapy. Med J Chin People Health. 2004;16:242–3. In Chinese.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported in part by grants from the China National Science and Technology Supporting Program (Grant No. 2009BA176B01) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81070961).
Conflict of Interest
All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Informed Consent
All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yang, Z., Su, Z., Ji, F. et al. Mechanisms of Behavior Modification in Clinical Behavioral Medicine in China. Int.J. Behav. Med. 21, 580–583 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-014-9405-7
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-014-9405-7