In the context of diagnosing psychological disorders, drug use over a long period of time typically leads to which condition in the body?

• A. Spontaneous remission
• B. Immediate withdrawal symptoms
• C. Physical dependence
• D. Acute psychosis

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the key terms related to drug use and psychological disorders: 'spontaneous remission' refers to the natural recovery from a disorder without treatment; 'immediate withdrawal symptoms' are the short-term physical and psychological effects experienced after stopping drug use; 'physical dependence' is a condition where the body adapts to a drug, leading to withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not taken; 'acute psychosis' is a severe mental disorder characterized by a loss of contact with reality.
2. Recognize that long-term drug use causes the body to adapt to the presence of the drug, which is the hallmark of physical dependence. This adaptation means the body requires the drug to function normally.
3. Differentiate physical dependence from immediate withdrawal symptoms: withdrawal symptoms occur when physical dependence is present but are the effects experienced after stopping the drug, not the condition caused by long-term use itself.
4. Eliminate spontaneous remission and acute psychosis as typical outcomes of long-term drug use in the body, since spontaneous remission is about recovery without treatment and acute psychosis is a mental state, not a bodily condition caused by drug use.
5. Conclude that the condition in the body typically caused by long-term drug use is physical dependence, as it directly relates to the body's physiological adaptation to the drug.