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Mechanisms of Behavior Modification in Clinical Behavioral Medicine in China

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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.

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shandong Key Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Jining Medical University, No. 16 Hehua Road, Jining Beihu New District, Shandong, 272067, China

    Zhiyin Yang, Feng Ji, Min Zhu & Bo Bai

  2. The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jining Medical University, No. 16 Hehua Road, Jining, Beihu New District, Shandong, 272067, China

    Zhonghua Su

Authors
  1. Zhiyin Yang
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  2. Zhonghua Su
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  3. Feng Ji
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  4. Min Zhu
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  5. Bo Bai
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhiyin Yang.

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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

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-014-9405-7

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