Anxiety and related disorders: prolonged exposure therapy: 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 · Anxiety and related disorders: prolonged exposure therapy

Sample item

A survivor of a violent assault repeatedly recounts the trauma in detail during sessions, records and listens to it between sessions, and gradually returns to avoided places. Which therapy is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Prolonged exposure therapy

Prolonged exposure combines imaginal exposure to the trauma memory with in vivo exposure to avoided reminders, and it is a first-line trauma-focused treatment for PTSD. The other approaches are not built around systematic exposure.

Option by option

  • A. Prolonged exposure therapy (correct)

    Correct. Imaginal recounting plus graded in vivo exposure defines prolonged exposure.

  • B. Supportive counselling

    Supportive counselling provides empathy and advice without systematic exposure.

  • C. Psychodynamic psychotherapy

    Psychodynamic psychotherapy explores unconscious conflict and does not use structured exposure.

  • D. Interpersonal therapy

    Interpersonal therapy focuses on relationships and role transitions, not trauma exposure.

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, Prolonged exposure therapy. Prolonged exposure combines imaginal exposure to the trauma memory with in vivo exposure to avoided reminders, and it is a first-line trauma-focused treatment for PTSD.

Why is "Supportive counselling" not the answer?

Supportive counselling provides empathy and advice without systematic exposure.

Why is "Psychodynamic psychotherapy" not the answer?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy explores unconscious conflict and does not use structured exposure.

Why is "Interpersonal therapy" not the answer?

Interpersonal therapy focuses on relationships and role transitions, not trauma exposure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Anxiety and related disorders: prolonged exposure therapy in Psychiatry. The other approaches are not built around systematic exposure.

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 Anxiety and related disorders: prolonged exposure therapy?

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.