Sleep disorders: restless legs syndrome: 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 · Sleep disorders: restless legs syndrome

Sample item

A woman has an irresistible urge to move her legs, worse at night and relieved by movement. Serum ferritin is low. The first step in management is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Iron replacement and a dopamine agonist or gabapentinoid if needed

Restless legs syndrome is associated with iron deficiency, pregnancy and renal failure, and treatment includes correcting low ferritin and using gabapentinoids or dopamine agonists. Antipsychotics, antiemetics like metoclopramide and some antidepressants can worsen it.

Option by option

  • A. Start haloperidol

    Antipsychotics worsen restless legs.

  • B. Start metoclopramide

    Metoclopramide is a dopamine antagonist and worsens the condition.

  • C. Iron replacement and a dopamine agonist or gabapentinoid if needed (correct)

    Correct. Iron replacement and appropriate drugs are indicated.

  • D. Start an SSRI

    SSRIs can aggravate the symptoms.

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, Iron replacement and a dopamine agonist or gabapentinoid if needed. Restless legs syndrome is associated with iron deficiency, pregnancy and renal failure, and treatment includes correcting low ferritin and using gabapentinoids or dopamine agonists.

Why is "Start haloperidol" not the answer?

Antipsychotics worsen restless legs.

Why is "Start metoclopramide" not the answer?

Metoclopramide is a dopamine antagonist and worsens the condition.

Why is "Start an SSRI" not the answer?

SSRIs can aggravate the symptoms.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Sleep disorders: restless legs syndrome in Psychiatry. Antipsychotics, antiemetics like metoclopramide and some antidepressants can worsen it.

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 Sleep disorders: restless legs syndrome?

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.