1. What is the 'placebo effect′ in medical treatment?
A. The actual pharmacological effect of a medication.
B. A negative side effect of a medication.
C. A beneficial effect produced by a placebo treatment, which cannot be attributed to the placebo itself, and is therefore ascribed to the patient′s expectation and belief.
D. The effect of a medication only when prescribed by a highly qualified doctor.
2. How does medical psychology differ from clinical psychology?
A. Clinical psychology focuses on medical settings, while medical psychology is broader.
B. Medical psychology is a subfield of clinical psychology, focusing on health-related issues.
C. Clinical psychology primarily deals with mental disorders, while medical psychology focuses on the psychological impact of physical illness.
D. There is no significant difference between medical psychology and clinical psychology.
3. In the context of medical psychology, what does 'coping′ refer to?
A. Avoiding dealing with a health problem.
B. The cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage psychological stress associated with illness or health concerns.
C. Denying the existence of a medical condition.
D. Ignoring medical advice.
4. What role does the biopsychosocial model play in medical psychology?
A. It emphasizes the biological factors of disease over psychological and social factors.
B. It is largely irrelevant to medical psychology.
C. It provides a framework for understanding health and illness as a result of interacting biological, psychological, and social factors.
D. It focuses solely on the psychological treatment of medical conditions.
5. How can psychological assessment be useful in pre-surgical evaluations?
A. Psychological assessment is not relevant for pre-surgical evaluations.
B. Only physical assessments are necessary before surgery.
C. To identify psychological factors (e.g., anxiety, depression, coping style) that may impact surgical outcomes, recovery, and patient experience.
D. To determine if a patient is intelligent enough for surgery.
6. Which psychological factor is LEAST likely to influence patient adherence to long-term medication regimens?
A. Patient′s beliefs about the medication′s effectiveness.
B. Complexity of the medication regimen (e.g., multiple doses per day).
C. Patient′s perceived severity of their illness.
D. The doctor′s hairstyle.
7. How can healthcare settings be designed to reduce patient anxiety?
A. By making them more technologically advanced and complex.
B. By using bright, fluorescent lighting and loud announcements.
C. By creating calming environments with natural light, comfortable seating, clear signage, and reducing noise levels.
D. By keeping waiting rooms crowded to foster a sense of community.
8. How can poor doctor-patient communication negatively impact health outcomes?
A. It usually has no significant impact as medical treatments are standardized.
B. It can lead to decreased patient adherence to treatment plans, increased anxiety, and reduced patient satisfaction.
C. It only affects patient satisfaction, not actual health outcomes.
D. It primarily affects the doctor′s well-being, not the patient′s.
9. Which of the following is a common psychological reaction to hospitalization?
A. Increased sense of independence and control.
B. Reduced anxiety and fear due to being in a safe environment.
C. Feelings of loss of control, anxiety, fear, and isolation.
D. Generally positive mood and optimism.
10. How can patient education, informed by psychological principles, improve health outcomes?
A. Patient education is irrelevant to health outcomes.
B. It only improves patient satisfaction, not actual health.
C. By increasing patient understanding of their condition and treatment, enhancing adherence, and promoting self-management behaviors.
D. It makes patients question doctors′ authority, leading to poorer outcomes.
11. What is the role of health psychology within medical psychology?
A. Health psychology is entirely separate from medical psychology.
B. Health psychology is a broader field that encompasses medical psychology.
C. Health psychology is often considered a significant subfield within medical psychology, focusing on health promotion and disease prevention.
D. Health psychology is primarily concerned with mental health, not physical health.
12. Which of the following is NOT a typical area of focus in medical psychology?
A. Patient adherence to medication regimens.
B. Psychological factors influencing the development of cancer.
C. The effectiveness of different psychotherapeutic approaches for depression in general population.
D. Doctor-patient communication and its impact on health outcomes.
13. What is the potential psychological impact of receiving a terminal diagnosis?
A. Usually, patients feel relieved as they know what to expect.
B. It can lead to significant emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, fear, and grief, for both the patient and their family.
C. Patients typically become emotionally numb and detached.
D. There are no significant psychological effects if the patient has a strong support system.
14. How can stress contribute to the development or exacerbation of physical illness?
A. Stress has no impact on physical health.
B. Stress can weaken the immune system, increase inflammation, and promote unhealthy behaviors.
C. Stress only affects mental health, not physical health.
D. Stress is only a minor factor compared to genetics.
15. What is a potential negative consequence of stigmatizing mental illness in medical settings?
A. Stigma has no negative consequences in healthcare.
B. Stigma can encourage people to seek help more readily.
C. Stigma can prevent individuals from seeking necessary mental health care, leading to poorer health outcomes.
D. Stigma only affects social relationships, not health.
16. How does culture influence a patient′s health beliefs and behaviors?
A. Culture has no impact on health beliefs and behaviors; they are purely individual.
B. Culture shapes beliefs about illness causes, preferred treatments, attitudes towards healthcare providers, and health-seeking behaviors.
C. Culture only affects dietary habits, not other health behaviors.
D. Modern medicine is culture-neutral and overrides cultural beliefs.
17. What is the difference between acute and chronic stress in terms of their impact on health?
A. Acute stress is more damaging to health than chronic stress.
B. Chronic stress, sustained over time, is generally more detrimental to physical and mental health than short-term acute stress.
C. Acute and chronic stress have the same long-term health impacts.
D. Only chronic stress has any impact on mental health, not physical health.
18. What is 'illness perception′ in the context of medical psychology?
A. A doctor′s objective assessment of a patient′s disease.
B. A patient′s subjective understanding and beliefs about their illness.
C. The biological markers of a specific disease.
D. The statistical prevalence of a particular illness in a population.
19. What is the primary goal of psychological interventions in medical settings?
A. To replace medical treatments entirely.
B. To solely focus on curing physical diseases.
C. To improve patients′ psychological well-being, enhance coping skills, promote adherence to medical treatment, and ultimately improve health outcomes.
D. To diagnose mental disorders in medically ill patients.
20. What is the role of empathy in doctor-patient communication from a medical psychology perspective?
A. Empathy is irrelevant in medical settings; doctors should be objective and detached.
B. Empathy can lead to emotional burnout for doctors and should be avoided.
C. Empathy enhances doctor-patient relationships, improves patient satisfaction, and can positively influence health outcomes by fostering trust and understanding.
D. Empathy makes doctors appear weak and unprofessional.
21. What is 'patient adherence′ (or compliance) in medical psychology?
A. A patient′s agreement with a doctor′s diagnosis, whether they follow treatment or not.
B. The extent to which a patient′s behavior aligns with agreed recommendations from a healthcare provider.
C. A patient′s willingness to undergo medical tests and procedures.
D. The patient′s ability to pay for their medical treatment.
22. What is the primary focus of medical psychology?
A. The biological basis of mental illness.
B. The psychological aspects of physical health and illness.
C. The treatment of severe mental disorders.
D. The study of social determinants of health.
23. What are the ethical considerations regarding the use of placebo treatments in clinical practice?
A. Placebo treatments are always unethical and should never be used.
B. Placebo treatments are ethical only if they are as effective as active treatments.
C. The primary ethical concern is deception; using placebos without informed consent can violate patient autonomy and trust.
D. There are no ethical concerns as long as placebos are harmless.
24. What is 'resilience′ in the context of coping with chronic illness?
A. The ability to completely avoid experiencing any negative emotions related to illness.
B. The process of giving up and accepting defeat when facing a chronic illness.
C. The ability to adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress, such as chronic illness.
D. Ignoring the chronic illness and pretending it doesn′t exist.
25. Which theoretical framework emphasizes the importance of social support in coping with medical conditions?
A. The biomedical model.
B. The psychodynamic theory.
C. The stress and coping theory.
D. The germ theory of disease.
26. In telemedicine, what is a potential psychological challenge for doctor-patient relationships compared to in-person consultations?
A. Telemedicine always enhances doctor-patient relationships.
B. There are no psychological challenges in telemedicine.
C. Reduced nonverbal cues and physical presence in telemedicine can hinder the development of rapport and trust.
D. Telemedicine eliminates all psychological barriers to communication.
27. Why is self-care important for healthcare professionals from a medical psychology perspective?
A. Self-care is unimportant for healthcare professionals as they are trained to handle stress.
B. Primarily to improve their personal appearance and social image.
C. To prevent burnout, maintain their own mental and physical health, and ensure they can provide effective and compassionate patient care.
D. To compete with other healthcare professionals in the job market.
28. Which psychological intervention is commonly used in medical psychology to help patients cope with chronic pain?
A. Psychoanalysis.
B. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
C. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).
D. Lobotomy.
29. What is 'motivational interviewing′ and how is it used in medical settings?
A. A confrontational technique to force patients to change unhealthy behaviors.
B. A directive approach where the healthcare provider tells the patient what to do.
C. A collaborative, patient-centered counseling style to elicit behavior change by helping patients explore and resolve ambivalence.
D. A method of hypnosis to implant healthy behaviors in patients′ minds.
30. Which of the following is an example of a 'health behavior′ studied in medical psychology?
A. Developing schizophrenia.
B. Contracting the flu.
C. Regular exercise.
D. Genetic predisposition to heart disease.
