Psychiatric emergencies: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Psychiatric emergencies

Sample item

What is the immediate priority when a patient expresses active suicidal intent with a plan?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Ensure safety and urgent risk assessment

Active suicidal intent with plan requires immediate safety measures, direct assessment of means and support, and urgent psychiatric or emergency intervention.

Option by option

  • A. Delay discussion until next appointment

    Delay may be dangerous.

  • B. Promise secrecy and send home

    Secrecy cannot override immediate safety.

  • C. Ensure safety and urgent risk assessment (correct)

    Correct: safety and urgent assessment come first.

  • D. Debate whether thoughts are rational

    Debate does not reduce acute risk.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Psychiatry questions

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Ensure safety and urgent risk assessment. Active suicidal intent with plan requires immediate safety measures, direct assessment of means and support, and urgent psychiatric or emergency intervention.

Why is "Delay discussion until next appointment" not the answer?

Delay may be dangerous.

Why is "Promise secrecy and send home" not the answer?

Secrecy cannot override immediate safety.

Why is "Debate whether thoughts are rational" not the answer?

Debate does not reduce acute risk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychiatric emergencies in Psychiatry. The correct option holds because: Correct: safety and urgent assessment come first.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Psychiatric emergencies?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.