Mood disorders: relapse after ECT: 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.

Try it

Psychiatry · Mood disorders: relapse after ECT

Sample item

A man with severe melancholic depression recovers fully after a course of ECT. What is the best way to reduce his risk of early relapse?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Continue antidepressant medication after the course

Relapse after a successful ECT course is common, highest within the first six months, if no continuation treatment follows. Continuing antidepressants, sometimes with lithium, or continuation ECT is advised.

Option by option

  • A. Rely on supportive visits alone

    Supportive visits alone are inadequate for a severe melancholic illness.

  • B. Stop all treatment since ECT is curative

    ECT does not cure; stopping all treatment leaves a high relapse risk.

  • C. Continue antidepressant medication after the course (correct)

    Correct. Continuation pharmacotherapy lowers relapse risk after an ECT response.

  • D. Repeat ECT weekly for life without medicines

    Indefinite weekly ECT without medicines is not standard practice.

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, Continue antidepressant medication after the course. Relapse after a successful ECT course is common, highest within the first six months, if no continuation treatment follows.

Why is "Rely on supportive visits alone" not the answer?

Supportive visits alone are inadequate for a severe melancholic illness.

Why is "Stop all treatment since ECT is curative" not the answer?

ECT does not cure; stopping all treatment leaves a high relapse risk.

Why is "Repeat ECT weekly for life without medicines" not the answer?

Indefinite weekly ECT without medicines is not standard practice.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Mood disorders: relapse after ECT in Psychiatry. Continuing antidepressants, sometimes with lithium, or continuation ECT is advised.

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 Mood disorders: relapse after ECT?

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.