National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) Exam with comprehensive flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question comes with detailed explanations and hints. Get ready for your NCAC I certification!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What neurochemical change is characterized by an abnormal increase in pain from a repetitive stimulus?

Hyperalgesia
Allodynia
Hyperapathia
Hyperkatifeia

The correct answer is: Hyperapathia

The neurochemical change characterized by an abnormal increase in pain from a repetitive stimulus is hyperalgesia. This condition involves a heightened response to a stimulus that ordinarily provokes a mild or moderate pain sensation. In the case of hyperalgesia, the nervous system becomes sensitized, leading to an exaggerated response to pain signals upon repeated stimulation. For instance, if a person experiences discomfort from a light touch or a minor injury, hyperalgesia would result in an intensified pain response when that same stimulus is applied repeatedly. This phenomenon can be attributed to various neurochemical changes in the body, including increased levels of certain neurotransmitters and a heightened inflammatory response. Allodynia, while related, describes a different scenario in which a normally non-painful stimulus produces pain. Hyperapathia refers to an abnormal increased response to pain stimuli, but it encompasses a broader range of sensations and can be more complex than hyperalgesia. Hyperkatifeia is not a widely recognized term in the context of pain responses, making hyperalgesia the most accurate response to describe an abnormal increase in pain from repetitive stimuli.