COMLEX-USA Behavioral Sciences and Psychiatry

Question 1

In Kübler-Ross's stages of grief, which stage is characterized by the patient seeking to delay the inevitable through promises?

Accepted Answer

Bargaining

Answer

The bargaining stage involves attempts to negotiate with a higher power or fate to delay or prevent death, often including 'if only' statements.

Question 2

A patient repeatedly arrives late to appointments despite genuine attempts to be on time. Which defense mechanism best explains this behavior?

Accepted Answer

Passive aggression

Answer

Passive aggression involves indirect expression of hostility through behaviors like tardiness, forgetfulness, or inefficiency.

Question 3

Which neurotransmitter is most implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, based on the dopamine hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine

Answer

The dopamine hypothesis proposes that mesolimbic dopamine hyperactivity causes positive symptoms while mesocortical hypoactivity causes negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Question 4

The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test is used to assess dysfunction in which brain region?

Accepted Answer

Prefrontal cortex

Answer

The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test assesses cognitive flexibility and set-shifting, which are executive functions dependent on the prefrontal cortex.

Question 5

A patient refuses a blood transfusion on religious grounds despite life-threatening blood loss. The ethical principle guiding the physician to respect this decision is:

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Autonomy requires respecting a competent patient's right to make their own medical decisions, even when the physician disagrees with the choice.

COMLEX-USA Practice Test

COMLEX-USA Practice Test

COMLEX-USA Behavioral Sciences and Psychiatry