Deck 9: The Experience and Management of Pain

Question 1

Feeling pain is beneficial to long-term health and survival.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

According to the gate control theory of pain, nerve endings in the damaged area transmit impulses to the substatia gelatinosa, a particular part of the spinal cord.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Opiate drugs such as morphine work in the reduction of pain by decreasing the production of endorphins.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

As many as 60% of amputees still feel pain in their "phantom limb" even 2 years after the amputation.

Question 5

Physiological measures of pain are usually the most effective in assessing pain levels in small children.

Question 6

Children tend to show more signs of anxiety during medical procedures when their parents are around compared to when they are not around.

Question 7

Surgical methods of pain control have very limited benefits.

Question 8

Medication for migraines has been found to be more effective than massage therapy treatments.

Question 9

Biofeedback is often no better than more simple techniques, such as relaxation, at reducing pain.

Question 10

The nocebo effect can lead people to feel a decrease in pain.

Question 11

Headaches are the most frequent type of pain experienced.

Question 12

Evidence from studies on pain and mood suggest that pain is the cause of psychological problems, not the result.

Question 13

________ pain is intense, but time-limited pain that is generally the result of tissue damage or disease.

A) Acute
B) Chronic
C) Progressive
D) Intractable-benign

Question 14

Ron has had lower back problems for the past ten years. During certain times, his back pain is nearly intolerable, whereas during other times it is a dull pain. However, the pain never really seems to subside. What type of pain is this?

A) Acute pain
B) Recurrent acute pain
C) Progressive pain
D) Intractable-benign pain

Question 15

This theory of pain helps explain why touching a warm heating pad feels pleasant, but touching a very hot stove burner feels painful.

A) Specificity theory
B) Pattern theory
C) Central system theory
D) Gate control theory

Question 16

The ________ theory of pain attempts to correct for limitations of other theories by including ________ factors in the experience of pain.

A) Pattern; physiological
B) Patter; psychological
C) Gate control; psychological
D) Gate control; physiological

Question 17

Which of the following statements about nerve fibers is TRUE?

A) A-delta fibers are unmyelinated fibers that transmit the sensation of diffuse, or aching pain .
B) A-delta fibers transmit information much quicker than do C-fibers
C) C-fibers are small and myelinated, and therefore can carry information very rapidly
D) Neither A-delta fibers or C-fibers carry information in the reception of pain

Question 18

The ________ generally allows people to figure out where on the body they are experiencing pain.

A) somatosensory cortex
B) hippocampus
C) pituitary gland
D) periaqueductral gray

Question 19

According to the gate control theory of pain, when a person feels anxious or scared, the brain _______ the gate and thereby ________ the potential to experience pain.

A) opens, decreases
B) opens; increases
C) closes; decrease
D) closes; increases

Question 20

How is the gate control theory of pain different from other theories of pain?

A) It describes pain as being caused by both physiological stimulation and psychological factors.
B) It explains why the same event can be interpreted differently by different people.
C) It describes people having some control over the experience of pain.
D) ALL OF THE ABOVE

Question 21

All of the following are physiological measures of pain EXCEPT?

A) Muscle Tension
B) Heart Rate
C) Skin Temperature
D) Facial expressions

Question 22

According to one study, male patients report experiencing ________ pain to females than they report to males.

A) equal amounts of
B) less
C) more
D) excruciating

Question 23

Bill, an eight-year old boy often complains of stomach pain in the mornings before school. He has learned that his mother sometimes allows him to miss school when he says he is sick. Allowing him to miss school (which he really does not like to go to), is a form of _________ ?

A) positive reinforcement
B) negative reinforcement
C) punishment
D) classical conditioning

Question 24

Based on a previous research study done by Bates and her colleagues, which of the following ethnic group is likely to report the most pain?

A) "old Americans"
B) Polish
C) Italians
D) European Americans

Question 25

________ strategies such as thinking about pain as short term and distracting yourself from the pain are more effective in reducing the experience of pain than are ________ strategies such as self criticism, overgeneralizing, and catastrophizing.

A) Direct; indirect
B) Indirect; direct
C) Passive; active
D) Active; passive

Question 26

People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) tend to have high scores on what personality dimension?

A) extraversion
B) neuroticism
C) agreeableness
D) type A

Question 27

Which of the following statements is FALSE about children with recurrent abdominal pain (that has no clear physical cause)?

A) They report more stressors, both in and out of school.
B) They tend to describe their stressors as more severe than those of other children.
C) They report other symptoms such as headaches and fatigue more often than other children.
D) They tend to be more extroverted than other children.

Question 28

Which of the following describes how stress may influence the experience of pain

A) Stress may lead people to engage in behaviors, such as tensing their muscles, that in turn cause pain.
B) High levels of stress may cause people to stop taking good care of themselves (i.e., over eat, exercise less)
C) Stress can lead directly to physiological problems, such as the dilation of arteries surrounding the brain and tension in the muscles in the head, neck and shoulders, which all can lead to headaches.
D) ALL OF THE ABOVE

Question 29

_________ drugs, such as aspirin, reduce fever and inflammation at the site of the wounds, and work to decrease pain by interfering with the transmission of pain signals.

A) Analgesic
B) Anesthetic
C) Transcutaneous
D) Chiropractic

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT a form of physical stimulation?

A) surgery
B) acupuncture
C) massage therapy
D) chiropractic therapy

Question 31

Which of the following is a potential drawback to biofeedback pain control?

A) Patients often know hot to do this technique naturally
B) It is very time consuming
C) It is relatively inexpensive
D) ALL OF THE ABOVE

Question 32

One method of relaxation is called _________, in which patients focus on tensing and than releasing each part of their body one at a time.

A) meditation
B) guided imagery
C) progressive muscle relaxation
D) systematic desensitization

Question 33

Which of the following is a potential explanation as to why cognitive therapy approaches work to reduce pain.

A) These approaches give people practical strategies for reducing pain
B) These approaches give people information of what to expect.
C) These approaches may increase people's perceived control over the pain.
D) ALL OF THE ABOVE

Question 34

Behavioral therapy for the reduction of pain often focuses on ________ positive behaviors, such as increased activity and _________ negative behaviors such as complaining about pain.

A) ignoring; reinforcing
B) reinforcing; ignoring
C) increasing; decreasing
D) decreasing; increasing

Question 35

Howard was a participant in a study involving a new medication for migraine headaches. In the study however, Howard was randomly assigned to the control condition in which he received an inert pill. He however was told that the "drug" may have several negative side effects such as nausea, and diarrhe

A) placebo effect
B) nocebo effect
C) behavioral effect
D) all of the above

Question 36

Based on previous research, which of the following procedures is likely to lead to the most painful memories?

A) a colonoscopy that involves ten minutes of intense pain
B) a colonoscopy that involves five minutes of moderate pain followed by 5 minutes of intense pain
C) a colonoscopy that involves ten minutes of intense pain followed by 3 minutes of moderate pain
D) a colonoscopy that involves five minutes of intense pain

Question 37

In some cases, "Placebo surgeries have been found to be ________ as real surgeries.

A) just as effective
B) less effective
C) more effective
D) more dangerous

Question 38

Women in long-term relationships underwent a series of pain events involving moderate heat. In one condition they held a stranger's hand, in another they held they partner's hand, and in yet another they looked at a picture of their partner. Women who held their partner's hand or even looked at a photograph of their partner experienced __________ than those who held a stranger's hand.

A) more pain
B) less pain
C) more positive affect
D) less positive affect

Question 39

Thirty-nine 4th-graders were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions during each of their vaccinations, so that all children experienced each of the treatment options. Children in the distraction condition watched a movie, such as 101 Dalmatians or Toy Story, while they had their shot. Children in the anesthetic condition had an anesthetic cream. Children in the typical care condition were simply comforted by the nurse. Findings from this study revealed that ___________ was a very effective strategy for reducing pain and anxiety.

A) distraction
B) anesthetic
C) usual care
D) 101 Dalmations, but not Toy Story

Question 40

Thirty-nine 4th-graders were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions during each of their vaccinations, so that all children experienced each of the treatment options. Children in the distraction condition watched a movie, such as 101 Dalmatians or Toy Story, while they had their shot. Children in the anesthetic condition had an anesthetic cream. Children in the typical care condition were simply comforted by the nurse. Findings from this study revealed a very effective strategy for reducing pain and anxiety. __________ was the dependent variable in this study.

A) distraction and anesthesia
B) distraction, anesthesia and treatment as usual
C) pain
D) pain and anxiety

Question 41

Describe the gate control theory of pain, and how it differs from earlier models.

Question 42

Describe four distinct ways in which psychological factors can influence the experience of pain.

Question 43

Describe two physical methods of controlling pain, and the limits/drawbacks of such methods.

Question 44

Describe four distinct ways of controlling pain through psychological methods, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

Question 45

Describe how placebos can decrease the experience of pain.

Question 46

Describe why exercise can be as or even more effective than traditional pain management.

Question 47

Describe why physical stimulation methods of pain management have effects that are "short lived."