will render it less threatening, and that
desirable behaviour can be encouraged
by using a system of rewards.
Specific behaviour therapy techniques
include exposure therapy (also called
desensitization), response prevention,
flooding, and modelling. Exposure ther-
apy is commonly used to treat phobic
disorders such as agoraphobia, animal
phobias, and flying phobias. It consists
of exposing the patient in stages to the
cause of the anxiety. The patient is
taught to cope with anxiety symptoms
by using relaxation techniques. In
flooding, the patient is confronted with
the anxiety-provoking stimulus all at
once, but with the support of the thera-
pist. In response prevention, the patient
is prevented from carrying out an
obsessional task; the technique is used
in combination with other methods. In
modelling, the therapist acts as a
model for the patient, performing the
anxiety-provoking activity first, in order
that the patient may copy.
Behçet’s syndromeA rare, multisystem
disorder with recurrent mouth ulcers
and genital ulcersand inflammation of
the eyes, skin joints, blood vessels,
brain, and intestines. The cause of
Behçet’s syndrome is unknown, but it is
strongly associated with a genetically
determined histocompatability antigen,
HLA-B51. Treatment is difficult and may
require corticosteroid and immunosup-
pressant drugs. The condition often
becomes long-term.
belchingThe noisy return of air from
the stomach through the mouth. Swal-
lowing air is usually an unconscious
habit, which may result from eating or
drinking too much too quickly. Some-
times, belching alleviates discomfort
caused by indigestion.
belladonnaAn extract of the deadly
nightshade plant that has been used
medicinally since ancient times. It con-
tains alkaloids, including atropine, that
are used as antispasmodic drugs in
treating gastrointestinal disturbances.
(See also anticholinergic drugs.)
Bell’s palsyThe most common form of
facial palsy(facial muscle weakness).
bendrofluazideAn alternative name
for bendroflumethiazide.
bendroflumethiazideA thiazide diur-
etic drugused to treat hypertensionand
heart failure.
bendsThe nonmedical term for decom-
pression sickness.
benignA term used to describe a dis-
ease that is relatively harmless. When
used to refer to tumours, benign means
noncancerous tumours that do not in-
vade or destroy local tissues and do not
spread to other sites within the body.
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
A medical term for enlargement of the
prostate gland (see prostate,enlarged).
benorilateA nonsteroidal anti-inflam-
matory drugthat contains aspirinand
paracetamol. Benorilate is mainly used
to relieve joint pain and stiffness in
osteoarthritisand rheumatoid arthritis.
Side effects are not usually serious, but
the aspirin in the drug may cause nau-
sea or indigestion.
benzalkonium chlorideA widely used
preservative in eye drops and products
such as cosmetics and mouth washes.
benzodiazepine drugsA group of
drugs given for short periods as sleep-
ing drugsfor insomniaand to control
the symptoms of anxietyor stress(see
tranquillizer drugs). Common benzodi-
azepines include diazepam, which is
used as a tranquillizer, and nitrazepam,
which is sometimes used for insomnia.
Benzodiazepines are also used in the
management of alcohol withdrawal and
in the control of epilepsy.
Minor adverse effects of benzodiaz-
epines include daytime drowsiness,
dizziness, and forgetfulness. Unstead-
iness and slowed reactions may also
occur. Regular users may become psy-
chologically and physically dependent;
for this reason, the drugs are usually
given for courses of 2–3 weeks or less.
When the drugs are stopped suddenly,
withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety,
restlessness, and nightmares may
occur. Benzodiazepine drugs are some-
times abused for their sedative effect.
benzoyl peroxideAn antisepticagent
used in the treatment of acne and
fungal skin infections (see fungal infec-
tions). In acne, benzoyl peroxide also
acts by removing the surface layer of
skin, unblocking sebaceous glands.BEHÇET’S SYNDROME BENZOYL PEROXIDE
B