Child and adolescent psychiatry: ADHD in preschool children: 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 · Child and adolescent psychiatry: ADHD in preschool children

Sample item

A 4-year-old girl is very overactive and impulsive at home and in nursery for over a year, with significant impairment. Which treatment should be tried first?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Parent behaviour training

For preschool children with ADHD, parent training is the first-line treatment, and medication is considered only if severe or if training fails. Stimulants are first-line from about school age.

Option by option

  • A. Atomoxetine

    Atomoxetine is a second-line option at this age.

  • B. Risperidone

    Risperidone is not a treatment for ADHD.

  • C. Parent behaviour training (correct)

    Correct. Parent training is recommended before drugs at this age.

  • D. Methylphenidate

    Methylphenidate is first-line in school-age children, not preschoolers.

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 C, Parent behaviour training. For preschool children with ADHD, parent training is the first-line treatment, and medication is considered only if severe or if training fails.

Why is "Atomoxetine" not the answer?

Atomoxetine is a second-line option at this age.

Why is "Risperidone" not the answer?

Risperidone is not a treatment for ADHD.

Why is "Methylphenidate" not the answer?

Methylphenidate is first-line in school-age children, not preschoolers.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Child and adolescent psychiatry: ADHD in preschool children in Psychiatry. Stimulants are first-line from about school age.

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 Child and adolescent psychiatry: ADHD in preschool children?

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.