Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Feeling pain is a crucial biological mechanism that alerts an organism to potential harm, allowing it to react to avoid injury or to seek healing and recovery, thereby supporting long-term health and survival.

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.

Accepted Answer

The gate control theory of pain suggests that pain signals passing through nerve gates at the spinal cord level can be modulated by signals coming from different parts of the body, and the substantia gelatinosa in the dorsal horns of the spinal cord plays a crucial role in this modulation process.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Opiate drugs like morphine work by mimicking the action of endorphins, binding to opioid receptors in the brain and reducing the perception of pain, rather than decreasing the production of endorphins.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Phantom limb pain is a common phenomenon among amputees, where they continue to feel pain or sensations in the limb that has been amputated. Studies and clinical observations have shown that a significant percentage of amputees experience this condition, often persisting for years after the surgery.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Physiological measures, while useful, are not always the most effective in assessing pain levels in small children because they can be influenced by factors other than pain, such as fear or anxiety. Behavioral observations and parental reports are often more reliable in this age group.

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.

Accepted Answer

Children often look to their parents for cues on how to react in stressful situations. If parents are anxious or show distress during medical procedures, children are likely to mirror these emotions, leading to increased signs of anxiety.

Question 7

Surgical methods of pain control have very limited benefits.

Accepted Answer

Surgical methods of pain control are often used as a last resort when other methods have failed to provide relief. They can be effective in some cases, but they also carry a risk of complications.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that while medication can be effective for treating migraines, massage therapy also offers significant benefits in reducing migraine frequency, duration, and intensity, making it a valuable complementary treatment. The effectiveness varies among individuals, and for some, massage therapy might be equally or more beneficial than medication.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that while biofeedback can be effective for pain reduction, it often does not significantly outperform simpler techniques like relaxation exercises, suggesting that both can be beneficial but biofeedback may not always offer additional advantages.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

The nocebo effect typically refers to the phenomenon where negative expectations of the patient regarding a treatment cause worsening symptoms or new side effects, not a decrease in pain.

Question 11

Headaches are the most frequent type of pain experienced.

Accepted Answer

Headaches are indeed the most common form of pain, experienced by virtually everyone at some point in their lives, and a significant reason why people seek medical advice or treatment.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that pain can lead to psychological problems such as depression and anxiety, rather than being caused by them.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Acute pain is intense and short-term, often resulting from tissue damage or an identifiable cause, and typically resolves once the underlying cause is treated.

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?

Accepted Answer

Intractable-benign pain is a type of pain that is persistent and constant, though its intensity can vary. It is not relieved by standard medical treatments, which matches the description of Ron's lower back problems that never really seem to subside despite fluctuating in intensity.

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of This theory of pain helps explain why...

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The gate control theory of pain includes psychological factors in the explanation of how pain is perceived, integrating both physiological and psychological aspects to provide a more comprehensive understanding of pain.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about nerve fibers is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A-delta fibers are indeed myelinated, which allows them to transmit information quickly, faster than the unmyelinated C-fibers that transmit slow, chronic pain signals.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

The somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing sensory information from the body, including touch, temperature, and pain, allowing individuals to localize where they are experiencing pain.

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.

Accepted Answer

According to the gate control theory of pain, when a person feels anxious or scared, the brain opens the gate, which increases the potential to experience pain. This is because emotional and psychological factors can influence the perception of pain.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

The gate control theory of pain is distinct because it incorporates physiological, psychological factors, and the concept of individual control over pain perception, explaining why pain experiences can vary among people.

Quiz 9: The Experience and Management of Pain