LSP Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine 3

Question 1

Which psychological factor has the strongest evidence as a predictor of poor post-surgical recovery outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Preoperative depression and anxiety

Answer

Preoperative depression and anxiety consistently predict longer hospital stays, greater pain, poorer wound healing, and slower functional recovery across surgical populations.

Question 2

The gate control theory of pain (Melzack & Wall) introduced which key concept to pain psychology?

Accepted Answer

Psychological and cognitive factors modulate pain signals in the spinal dorsal horn

Answer

Gate control theory proposed that a spinal 'gate' in the dorsal horn can be opened or closed by peripheral signals and descending cognitive-emotional influences, explaining psychological effects on pain.

Question 3

A patient with fibromyalgia catastrophizes about pain, saying 'This will never get better and I can't do anything.' Which CBT technique directly targets this pattern?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive restructuring to identify and challenge maladaptive pain cognitions

Answer

Cognitive restructuring directly challenges pain catastrophizing by helping patients identify cognitive distortions (helplessness, magnification, rumination) and develop more balanced appraisals.

Question 4

Which health behavior theory emphasizes the role of self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and behavioral goals in maintaining health behaviors?

Accepted Answer

Social Cognitive Theory

Answer

Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory places self-efficacy—confidence in one's ability to perform a behavior—as the central driver alongside expected outcomes and personal goal-setting.

Question 5

In the context of chronic illness management, illness perceptions are best assessed using which validated instrument?

Accepted Answer

Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R)

Answer

The IPQ-R measures patients' cognitive and emotional representations of their illness across dimensions including identity, timeline, consequences, control, and coherence.

(LSP) Licensed Specialist in Psychology Certification Practice Test

(LSP) Licensed Specialist in Psychology Certification Practice Test

LSP Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine 3