🎯 Behavioral Sciences

Chapter 8 Behavioral Sciences

Chapter 8

Behavioral Sciences

A significant factor influencing a patient’s ability to heal from an injury or manage a chronic disease is that person’s psychiatric and socioeconomic status. When considering treatment options for a patient, a physician must take into account the patient’s ability to understand and adhere to a treatment plan. Patients with a psychiatric disorder or who are unable to afford their prescriptions are not likely to take medications as prescribed, unless the treatment regimen is simple and affordable. In an effort to emphasize the psychological and social aspects of medicine, the AAMC has added a section to the MCAT known as the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section. This section is approximately 65 percent psychology, 30 percent sociology, and 5 percent biology. In addition, another 5 percent of the psychology questions cover biologically relevant topics.