An athlete claims ibuprofen is needed prior to each practice in order to complete the whole practice. The athlete had been taking ibuprofen for a lateral ankle sprain that occurred a month earlier; however, the doctor has instructed the athlete to cease taking medications due to lack of swelling and pain. What term would best describe the athlete's general response produced by the ibuprofen?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Habituation is the correct term in this context because it describes a situation where the athlete has developed a psychological dependence or habit of taking ibuprofen, despite the lack of a medical reason (such as swelling or pain) to continue its use. This is different from tolerance, which involves needing more of a substance to achieve the same effect, or the other options which do not accurately describe the scenario.

An Athlete Claims Ibuprofen Is Needed Prior to Each Practice