Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine Flashcards

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

Answer: Preoperative depression and anxiety

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

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

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

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.

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?

Answer: Cognitive restructuring to identify and challenge maladaptive pain cognitions

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

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

Answer: Social Cognitive Theory

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.

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

Answer: Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R)

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

Psychoneuroimmunology research demonstrates that chronic stress most reliably affects immunity by:

Answer: Suppressing cellular immunity while upregulating certain inflammatory markers

Chronic stress shifts immune function toward suppressed cell-mediated responses (reduced NK and T-cell activity) and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, increasing susceptibility to infection and chronic disease.

Which approach to pain management is characterized by accepting pain without judgment and committing to valued life activities despite its presence?

Answer: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT for chronic pain targets psychological flexibility, encouraging patients to accept pain experiences and pursue meaningful activities rather than struggling to eliminate pain.