Psychopharmacology: contingency management: 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 · Psychopharmacology: contingency management

Sample item

A drug treatment clinic gives patients vouchers of rising value for each urine sample that is negative for illicit drugs, and withholds them after a positive sample. Which therapeutic approach is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Contingency management

Contingency management applies operant conditioning by rewarding desired behaviour such as drug-free urine tests. It has a good evidence base in stimulant and other substance use disorders and works as long as the incentives continue.

Option by option

  • A. Contingency management (correct)

    Correct. Tangible rewards for drug-free samples constitute contingency management.

  • B. Cue exposure therapy

    Cue exposure therapy extinguishes craving by exposing patients to drug cues without use.

  • C. Aversion therapy

    Aversion therapy pairs the substance with an unpleasant stimulus.

  • D. Motivational interviewing

    Motivational interviewing builds intrinsic motivation through reflective conversation and does not use rewards.

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.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is A, Contingency management. Contingency management applies operant conditioning by rewarding desired behaviour such as drug-free urine tests.

Why is "Cue exposure therapy" not the answer?

Cue exposure therapy extinguishes craving by exposing patients to drug cues without use.

Why is "Aversion therapy" not the answer?

Aversion therapy pairs the substance with an unpleasant stimulus.

Why is "Motivational interviewing" not the answer?

Motivational interviewing builds intrinsic motivation through reflective conversation and does not use rewards.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychopharmacology: contingency management in Psychiatry. It has a good evidence base in stimulant and other substance use disorders and works as long as the incentives continue.

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 Psychopharmacology: contingency management?

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.