Anxiety disorders: 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 · Anxiety disorders

Sample item

What is the first-line treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Cognitive behavioural therapy with exposure and response prevention, with or without an SSRI

Exposure and response prevention is the most effective psychotherapy for OCD, and SSRIs, often at higher doses than for depression, are the drug treatment. Clomipramine is another option. Benzodiazepines do not treat obsessions.

Option by option

  • A. Antipsychotics alone

    Antipsychotics are only added in resistant cases.

  • B. Electroconvulsive therapy

    ECT is not a treatment for OCD.

  • C. Cognitive behavioural therapy with exposure and response prevention, with or without an SSRI (correct)

    Correct. Therapy, drugs or both are first-line.

  • D. Benzodiazepines

    Benzodiazepines are not effective for OCD.

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, Cognitive behavioural therapy with exposure and response prevention, with or without an SSRI. Exposure and response prevention is the most effective psychotherapy for OCD, and SSRIs, often at higher doses than for depression, are the drug treatment.

Why is "Antipsychotics alone" not the answer?

Antipsychotics are only added in resistant cases.

Why is "Electroconvulsive therapy" not the answer?

ECT is not a treatment for OCD.

Why is "Benzodiazepines" not the answer?

Benzodiazepines are not effective for OCD.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Anxiety disorders in Psychiatry. Clomipramine is another option. Benzodiazepines do not treat obsessions.

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 disorders?

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.