propranolol

n. a beta blocker used primarily to treat hypertension. In low doses, it is used as an adjunctive agent in the treatment of certain forms of social phobia, such as fear of public speaking or performance, predominantly due to its ability to control certain peripheral symptoms of anxiety, such as tremor and vocal quavering. Because it produces a nonspecific blockade of beta-adrenergic receptors, it should not be taken by individuals with asthma or reactive airway disease, due to its ability to constrict bronchial smooth musculature and thereby induce breathing difficulties. U.S. trade name: Inderal.

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Psychology term of the day

February 16th 2025

cause

1. an event or state that brings about another (its effect).

2. in Aristotelian and rationalist philosophy, an entity or event that is a requirement for another entity or event’s coming to be. Aristotle proposed that there were four types of cause—material, formal, efficient, and final. In the case of a sculpture, for example, the material cause is the stone or metal from which it is made, the formal cause is the form or structure that it takes, the efficient cause is the sculptor, and the final cause is the sculptor’s aim or purpose in making it. —causal adj.