Antidepressants: hyponatraemia: 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 · Antidepressants: hyponatraemia

Sample item

A 75-year-old woman on an SSRI becomes confused, with serum sodium of 120 mmol/L and concentrated urine. The probable mechanism is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. SIADH

SSRIs and SNRIs can cause SIADH, especially in older women, within the first weeks of treatment. Management includes stopping the drug and managing sodium appropriately.

Option by option

  • A. Hyperaldosteronism

    Hyperaldosteronism causes hypernatraemia and hypokalaemia.

  • B. SIADH (correct)

    Correct. SIADH produces hyponatraemia with inappropriately concentrated urine.

  • C. Diabetes insipidus

    DI causes hypernatraemia with dilute urine.

  • D. Adrenal crisis from the drug

    Adrenal crisis is not caused by SSRIs.

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 B, SIADH. SSRIs and SNRIs can cause SIADH, especially in older women, within the first weeks of treatment.

Why is "Hyperaldosteronism" not the answer?

Hyperaldosteronism causes hypernatraemia and hypokalaemia.

Why is "Diabetes insipidus" not the answer?

DI causes hypernatraemia with dilute urine.

Why is "Adrenal crisis from the drug" not the answer?

Adrenal crisis is not caused by SSRIs.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antidepressants: hyponatraemia in Psychiatry. Management includes stopping the drug and managing sodium appropriately.

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 Antidepressants: hyponatraemia?

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.