NEET-PG 2012 — Psychiatry
24 Previous Year Questions with Answers & Explanations
What is the code for mental disorders in the ICD-10 classification?
According to the classical monoamine hypothesis of depression, deficiency of which of the following neurotransmitters is MOST commonly emphasized in modern antidepressant therapy?
What is the most commonly abused drug in India?
What are the homes called where children are placed under the care of doctors and psychiatrists?
In the context of understanding patient behavior and therapeutic relationships, what is the definition of social psychology?
Muttering delirium is seen with: NEET 13
What does Pica refer to?
What does the term 'etheromania' refer to?
Which of the following is a recognized type of anxiety disorder?
Derealization and depersonalization are symptoms of which type of disorder?
NEET-PG 2012 - Psychiatry NEET-PG Practice Questions and MCQs
Question 1: What is the code for mental disorders in the ICD-10 classification?
- A. E
- B. F (Correct Answer)
- C. P
- D. G
Explanation: ***F*** - In the **ICD-10 classification**, the chapter for **Mental and behavioural disorders** is designated by the letter **'F'**. - This chapter covers a wide range of conditions, from mental retardation to mood disorders and substance-related disorders. *E* - The letter **'E'** in ICD-10 is used for **Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases**. - This category includes conditions like diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorders. *P* - The letter **'P'** in ICD-10 denotes **Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period**. - These are conditions that arise during the period around childbirth. *G* - The letter **'G'** in ICD-10 refers to **Diseases of the nervous system**. - This chapter includes conditions like epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and stroke.
Question 2: According to the classical monoamine hypothesis of depression, deficiency of which of the following neurotransmitters is MOST commonly emphasized in modern antidepressant therapy?
- A. Serotonin (Correct Answer)
- B. Acetylcholine
- C. Dopamine
- D. GABA
Explanation: ***Serotonin*** - The **classical monoamine hypothesis** of depression posits deficiencies in monoamine neurotransmitters including **serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine, and dopamine**. - Among these, **serotonin** is the **most commonly emphasized** in modern antidepressant therapy, given its central role in mood regulation, sleep, appetite, and cognition. - The majority of first-line antidepressants, such as **SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)** and **SNRIs**, primarily target serotonergic pathways, reflecting its clinical importance. - **Clinical relevance**: Serotonin deficiency is associated with depressed mood, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and appetite changes. *Acetylcholine* - **Acetylcholine** is a neurotransmitter involved in cognitive function, memory, and muscle contraction. - It is **not a monoamine** and is not part of the classical monoamine hypothesis of depression. - Acetylcholine deficiency is primarily implicated in **Alzheimer's disease** and other cognitive disorders, not depression. *Dopamine* - **Dopamine** is one of the three monoamines implicated in the classical hypothesis and plays a role in pleasure, reward, motivation, and motor control. - Dopamine deficiency can contribute to symptoms of **anhedonia** (inability to feel pleasure) and lack of motivation in depression. - However, dopamine-targeting antidepressants (like bupropion) are less commonly used as first-line therapy compared to serotonergic agents, making serotonin the most emphasized in clinical practice. *GABA* - **GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)** is the primary **inhibitory neurotransmitter** in the central nervous system. - It is **not a monoamine** and is not part of the classical monoamine hypothesis of depression. - GABA dysfunction is primarily associated with **anxiety disorders, seizures, and insomnia**, not depression as per the classical hypothesis.
Question 3: What is the most commonly abused drug in India?
- A. Heroin
- B. Amphetamine
- C. Cocaine
- D. Cannabis (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Cannabis*** - Cannabis (bhang, ganja, charas) is the **most commonly abused illicit drug in India** according to national surveys including the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use. - It has **widespread social and cultural acceptance** in certain contexts, contributing to its higher prevalence across diverse populations. - Cannabis use is distributed across **all socioeconomic strata** and geographic regions, making it more prevalent than other illicit drugs. *Heroin* - While heroin is a **highly addictive opioid** with severe health consequences, its overall prevalence is **lower than cannabis** at the national level. - Heroin abuse is more concentrated in **specific regions** (northern states like Punjab, northeastern states) rather than being uniformly distributed. - The National Survey data shows opioid abuse (including heroin) affects a **smaller percentage** of the population compared to cannabis. *Amphetamine* - Amphetamines are **stimulant drugs** that are significantly less commonly abused in India compared to cannabis and opioids. - Their use is **highly localized** and represents a much smaller proportion of substance abuse cases. *Cocaine* - Cocaine is a **powerful stimulant** that is expensive and less accessible in India, making it one of the **least commonly abused** drugs. - Its use is typically limited to **affluent urban populations** and represents minimal prevalence in national substance abuse statistics.
Question 4: What are the homes called where children are placed under the care of doctors and psychiatrists?
- A. Foster care homes
- B. Youth detention centers
- C. Child mental health clinics
- D. Residential treatment facilities (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Residential treatment facilities*** - These facilities provide structured, live-in therapeutic environments where children and adolescents receive comprehensive psychiatric and medical care. - They are staffed by a multidisciplinary team including **psychiatrists**, psychologists, social workers, and nurses. *Foster care homes* - Foster care involves placing children with temporary families, usually due to neglect or abuse, focusing on a family-like setting rather than intensive medical or psychiatric care. - While foster children may receive mental health services, the homes themselves are not clinical environments. *Youth detention centers* - These facilities are for children and adolescents who have committed crimes and are awaiting trial or serving sentences. - While mental health services may be provided, their primary purpose is correctional, not therapeutic. *Child mental health clinics* - These clinics offer outpatient services, including diagnosis, therapy, and medication management, but do not provide residential care. - Children attend appointments and then return home, unlike the live-in care provided in residential facilities.
Question 5: In the context of understanding patient behavior and therapeutic relationships, what is the definition of social psychology?
- A. The study of human relationships and behavior in social contexts
- B. The examination of cultural influences on behavior
- C. A field that does not exist
- D. The study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in social situations (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***The study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in social situations*** - **Social psychology** focuses on understanding how individual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. - This field examines topics like **social perception**, **attitude formation**, and **interpersonal relationships**, which are crucial for understanding therapeutic interactions. *The study of human relationships and behavior in social contexts* - While this option is close, it is a broader and less precise definition. Social psychology specifically focuses on the **individual's psychological processes** within social contexts. - This definition could also encompass fields like **sociology**, which studies groups and societies rather than the individual experience. *The examination of cultural influences on behavior* - This describes **cultural psychology** or **cross-cultural psychology**, which explicitly investigates the impact of culture on psychological processes. - While culture is a social context, social psychology's scope is broader, encompassing all forms of social influence, not just cultural ones. *A field that does not exist* - This statement is incorrect; **social psychology is a well-established and active field** within psychology. - It has a rich history and continues to contribute significantly to our understanding of human behavior and interactions.
Question 6: Muttering delirium is seen with: NEET 13
- A. Datura (Correct Answer)
- B. Castor oil plant
- C. Cocaine (stimulant)
- D. Monkshood (Aconitum)
Explanation: ***Datura*** - **Datura poisoning** is characterized by an **anticholinergic toxidrome**, which includes central nervous system effects like **muttering delirium, hallucinations**, and disorientation. - The patient exhibits features like **dilated pupils, dry mouth, flushed skin**, and **tachycardia** due to the blockage of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. *Castor oil plant* - The **castor oil plant** contains **ricin**, a potent toxin that causes **gastrointestinal symptoms** (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea) and eventually multi-organ failure. - It does not typically cause the central nervous system effects like **muttering delirium** seen with Datura poisoning. *Cocaine (stimulant)* - **Cocaine** is a central nervous system stimulant that causes **euphoria, agitation, paranoia, dilated pupils**, and **tachycardia**. - While it can cause psychosis, the specific **muttering delirium** is not its hallmark presentation; instead, it is associated with a hyperadrenergic state. *Monkshood (Aconitum)* - **Monkshood** contains **aconitine**, a neurotoxin that primarily affects cardiac and neurological function, causing **paresthesias, muscle weakness, bradycardia**, and potentially fatal arrhythmias. - It does not typically cause the **muttering delirium** with features of an anticholinergic syndrome.
Question 7: What does Pica refer to?
- A. Ice sucking
- B. Thumb sucking
- C. An appetite for non-nutritive substances (Correct Answer)
- D. None of the options
Explanation: ***An appetite for non-nutritive substances*** - Pica is an eating disorder characterized by a persistent and compulsive craving for and consumption of **non-nutritive, non-food substances** for at least one month. - Common ingested substances include **dirt, clay, ice, hair, paint chips, and laundry starch**, often associated with **nutritional deficiencies** like iron deficiency anemia or **developmental disabilities**. *Ice sucking* - While **pagophagia (ice craving)** is a specific form of Pica, it represents only one manifestation and not the overarching definition of the disorder. - Isolated ice sucking can sometimes be a sign of **iron deficiency anemia**. *Thumb sucking* - **Thumb sucking** is a common habit, especially in infants and young children, typically associated with self-soothing and comfort. - It is not considered an eating disorder and does not involve the consumption of non-nutritive substances. *None of the options* - This option is incorrect because "An appetite for non-nutritive substances" accurately defines Pica.
Question 8: What does the term 'etheromania' refer to?
- A. Ether addiction (Correct Answer)
- B. Acute psychosis following ether anesthesia
- C. Excessive use of ether as an anesthetic
- D. Delirium tremens from ether withdrawal
Explanation: ***Ether addiction*** - **Etheromania** specifically refers to the compulsive use and dependence on **ether** for its psychoactive effects. - This term was historically used to describe individuals who developed a significant **addiction** to ether. - The suffix "-mania" in psychiatric terminology often denotes an obsessive or compulsive behavior pattern related to a specific substance. *Acute psychosis following ether anesthesia* - While ether anesthesia can sometimes lead to transient psychomotor agitation or emergence delirium, **acute psychosis** is not the primary definition of etheromania. - Etheromania describes a long-term pattern of **addictive behavior**, not an acute post-anesthesia complication. *Excessive use of ether as an anesthetic* - This describes a medical application of ether, albeit potentially misused, but does not primarily denote the **addictive state** of the person using it. - **Etheromania** focuses on the individual's psychological and physiological dependence, not merely the quantity used for medical purposes. *Delirium tremens from ether withdrawal* - Delirium tremens is specifically associated with **alcohol withdrawal**, not ether withdrawal. - While ether withdrawal can cause symptoms, the term **etheromania** refers to the addiction itself, not withdrawal complications.
Question 9: Which of the following is a recognized type of anxiety disorder?
- A. Bipolar Disorder
- B. Major Depressive Disorder
- C. Schizophrenia
- D. Panic Disorder (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Panic Disorder*** - **Panic disorder** is a recognized **anxiety disorder** characterized by recurrent unexpected **panic attacks** - sudden episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms like heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and trembling. - It involves persistent worry about having more attacks (anticipatory anxiety) and maladaptive behavioral changes to avoid situations where attacks might occur. - Classified under **Anxiety Disorders** in DSM-5 and ICD-11. *Major Depressive Disorder* - **Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)** is a **mood disorder**, not an anxiety disorder. - Characterized by persistent depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia), changes in appetite/sleep, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, and potential suicidal ideation. - Classified under **Depressive Disorders** in DSM-5, distinct from anxiety disorders, though anxiety symptoms may co-occur. *Bipolar Disorder* - **Bipolar disorder** is a **mood disorder**, not an anxiety disorder. - Characterized by significant mood swings including episodes of mania/hypomania (elevated, expansive, or irritable mood with increased energy) and depression. - Classified under **Bipolar and Related Disorders** in DSM-5, distinct from anxiety disorders. *Schizophrenia* - **Schizophrenia** is a **psychotic disorder**, not an anxiety disorder. - Characterized by disturbances in thought, perception, emotions, and behavior, including hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and negative symptoms. - Classified under **Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders** in DSM-5, distinct from anxiety disorders.
Question 10: Derealization and depersonalization are symptoms of which type of disorder?
- A. Dissociative disorder (Correct Answer)
- B. Personality disorders
- C. Mania
- D. Anxiety disorders
Explanation: ***Dissociative disorder*** - **Derealization** involves experiencing the outside world as unreal or dreamlike - **Depersonalization** is the experience of feeling detached from one's own body or mental processes - These are hallmark symptoms of **dissociative disorders**, specifically depersonalization-derealization disorder in DSM-5 *Personality disorders* - Characterized by enduring, maladaptive patterns of inner experience and behavior - While some personality disorders (e.g., **borderline personality disorder**) may display transient dissociative symptoms under stress, derealization and depersonalization are not core diagnostic features *Mania* - A state of abnormally elevated mood and energy, involving **racing thoughts**, **decreased need for sleep**, and **impulsive behavior** - Does not typically involve consistent derealization or depersonalization as core features *Anxiety disorders* - Depersonalization can occur transiently during **panic attacks** or severe anxiety - However, when derealization and depersonalization are the primary, persistent symptoms, they indicate a **dissociative disorder** rather than an anxiety disorder