MCAT Behavioral Sciences Question 240: Answer and Explanation

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Question: 240

3. The average individual diagnosed with IBS is a 40-50 year old female who is white, educated, married, and middle to upper-middle class. Based on this information, what might you conclude about IBS?

  • A. IBS is underdiagnosed in less-affluent populations.
  • B. IBS rarely affects younger men and women.
  • C. There is a causal relationship between education status and IBS.
  • D. Age, gender, race, and marital status should all be viewed as risk factors for developing IBS.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

Since the passage states at the end of the second paragraph that "IBS symptoms usually begin during late teen or early adult years" choice B is wrong, and we might conclude that these individuals are not being diagnosed because they are less-affluent, and have perhaps less access to medical care (choice A is correct). In fact, many psychiatric illnesses and disorders are underdiagnosed in less affluent populations. Based solely on the information provided, you cannot conclude that there is a causal relationship between the listed factors and IBS (choice C is wrong), nor can you assume that any of these factors increase one's risk for developing IBS (choice D is wrong). Correlation does not imply or prove causation.

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