NEET-PG 2020 - Psychiatry PYQs Practice Questions

Q: What is the most common illicit drug that causes dependence?

Cannabis. ***Cannabis*** - **Cannabis** is the most widely used illicit drug globally, and despite common misconceptions, it can certainly lead to **cannabis use disorder** characterized by dependence. - The high prevalence of its use contributes to it being the illicit drug that most commonly causes clinical dependence, as a larger user base means more individuals will develop problematic use patterns. *Cocaine* - While cocaine is known for its **highly addictive potential** and rapid development of dependence, its overall prevalence of use is lower than cannabis. - The intense psychological dependence associated with cocaine can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms and compulsive drug-seeking behavior. *Heroin* - **Heroin**, an opioid, is highly addictive, causing both **physical and psychological dependence** very quickly due to its potent effects on the brain's reward system. - However, its illicit use is less widespread compared to cannabis, making it responsible for fewer overall cases of dependence. *Amphetamine* - **Amphetamines** also have a high potential for **psychological dependence**, leading to compulsive use and significant withdrawal symptoms upon cessation. - Like cocaine and heroin, the overall number of people who use amphetamines illicitly is significantly lower than those who use cannabis. [Practice more Psychiatry PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: A patient with depression was given Imipramine for 2 weeks. Relatives noticed increased excitement, colorful clothes, and increased talking. What is the next step in management?

Discontinue Imipramine and start Valproate. ***Discontinue Imipramine and start Valproate*** - The patient's symptoms (increased excitement, colorful clothes, increased talking) after starting an antidepressant like **Imipramine** suggest a **manic switch**, indicating undiagnosed **bipolar disorder**. - **Imipramine** should be discontinued as it can exacerbate mania, and a mood stabilizer like **Valproate** is necessary to treat the manic episode. *Continue Imipramine alone* - Continuing Imipramine would likely worsen the manic symptoms, leading to increased agitation and potential harm. - Antidepressants can trigger or worsen manic episodes in individuals with underlying bipolar disorder. *Manage with Valproate alone* - While Valproate is an appropriate treatment for acute mania, simply managing with Valproate alone without discontinuing the offending antidepressant would be suboptimal. - The continued presence of Imipramine would counteract the mood-stabilizing effects of Valproate. *Antipsychotic with Imipramine continued* - Adding an antipsychotic might manage some acute manic symptoms, but continuing Imipramine would maintain the driving force behind the manic switch. - The primary action should be to remove the causative agent (Imipramine) and replace it with a mood stabilizer. [Practice more Psychiatry PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: A female patient has been on lithium for bipolar disorder for 6 months. After fasting for several days due to religious reasons, she presents with seizures, tremors, confusion, and weakness. What is the most appropriate investigation to diagnose her condition?

Serum lithium levels. **Serum lithium levels** - The patient's symptoms (seizures, tremors, confusion, weakness) are classic for **lithium toxicity**. - **Fasting** can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which can increase lithium concentrations and toxicity [1]. *Serum electrolytes* - While **electrolyte imbalances** can occur with fasting and contribute to symptoms, measuring serum electrolytes alone will not directly diagnose lithium toxicity. - Electrolyte disturbances might be a predisposing factor or a concomitant issue, but not the primary diagnostic test for lithium toxicity itself [1]. *ECG* - An **ECG** can reveal cardiac effects of lithium toxicity, such as T-wave flattening or inversion, but it is not the most appropriate direct diagnostic test for the condition itself. - ECG changes are secondary manifestations and may not always be present or specific. *MRI* - While an **MRI** of the brain might be considered to rule out other causes of neurological symptoms like a stroke or brain lesion, it is not the initial or most appropriate investigation for suspected lithium toxicity. - The clinical picture strongly points to a pharmacological cause, making laboratory tests more relevant first-line diagnostics than imaging. [Practice more Psychiatry PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: On voluntary admission, the maximum number of days a person can be admitted as per mental health care act is:

30 days. ***30 days*** - As per the **Mental Healthcare Act, 2017**, under **Section 89 (Independent Admission)**, a person can be admitted independently for a **maximum period of 30 days**. - After 30 days, the person must either be discharged or the admission must be converted to voluntary or involuntary admission with appropriate procedures. - This provision allows for independent treatment-seeking without requiring a caregiver's involvement initially. *48 hours* - **48 hours** is not related to voluntary or independent admission duration. - This timeframe relates to the period within which a voluntary patient must be discharged after they request to leave (unless there are grounds for involuntary admission). *60 days* - **60 days** is not specified in the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 for any category of admission. - This is neither the duration for voluntary, independent, nor involuntary admission procedures. *90 days* - **90 days** is not the correct maximum period for voluntary or independent admission. - While voluntary admission can continue indefinitely with ongoing consent, **independent admission** specifically has a **30-day limit** as per Section 89 of the Act. [Practice more Psychiatry PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: A patient complains of sadness of mood, increased lethargy, early morning awakening, loss of interest and reports no will to live and hears voices asking her to kill self. What is the diagnosis?

Major depressive disorder plus psychosis. ***Major depressive disorder plus psychosis*** - The patient presents with classic symptoms of **major depressive disorder**, including persistent sadness, **anhedonia (loss of interest)**, **lethargy**, and **early morning awakening**. - The presence of **auditory hallucinations** (hearing voices asking her to kill herself) indicates **psychotic features** accompanying the severe depression, leading to the diagnosis of major depressive disorder with psychotic features. *Schizophrenia* - While schizophrenia involves psychosis, the primary presentation here is a prominent **depressive syndrome** rather than the typical **positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations)**, **negative symptoms (alogia, avolition)**, and **disorganized thought** processes characteristic of schizophrenia. - The depressive symptoms are too pervasive and central to the clinical picture to be solely schizophrenia. *Schizoaffective disorder* - This disorder requires a period of **at least two weeks of psychotic symptoms** (hallucinations or delusions) **without prominent mood symptoms**, which is not described. - In this case, the **psychotic symptoms are congruent with the depressed mood** (e.g., voices urging self-harm, reflecting hopelessness), rather than independent. *Schizotypal personality disorder* - This is a pervasive pattern of **social and interpersonal deficits** marked by acute discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships, as well as by **cognitive or perceptual distortions** and eccentricities of behavior. - It does not involve persistent, severe depressive episodes with overt psychotic symptoms as described, nor significant functional impairment to the extent seen here. [Practice more Psychiatry PYQs on OnCourse]

Question 1

What is the most common illicit drug that causes dependence?

Accepted Answer

Cannabis

Answer

Cocaine

Answer

Heroin

Answer

Amphetamine

Question 2

A patient with depression was given Imipramine for 2 weeks. Relatives noticed increased excitement, colorful clothes, and increased talking. What is the next step in management?

Accepted Answer

Discontinue Imipramine and start Valproate

Answer

Continue Imipramine alone

Answer

Manage with Valproate alone

Answer

Antipsychotic with Imipramine continued

Question 3

A female patient has been on lithium for bipolar disorder for 6 months. After fasting for several days due to religious reasons, she presents with seizures, tremors, confusion, and weakness. What is the most appropriate investigation to diagnose her condition?

Accepted Answer

Serum lithium levels

Answer

Serum electrolytes

Answer

ECG

Answer

MRI

Question 4

On voluntary admission, the maximum number of days a person can be admitted as per mental health care act is:

Accepted Answer

30 days

Answer

48 hours

Answer

60 days

Answer

90 days

Question 5

A patient complains of sadness of mood, increased lethargy, early morning awakening, loss of interest and reports no will to live and hears voices asking her to kill self. What is the diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Major depressive disorder plus psychosis

Answer

Schizophrenia

Answer

Schizoaffective disorder

Answer

Schizotypal personality disorder

Question 6

A 1st year medical student presents with recurrent episodes of choking sensation, breathlessness, intense sweating along with feeling of impending doom. Usually the episodes occur prior to exams. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Panic attack

Answer

Acute stress disorder

Answer

Generalised anxiety disorder

Answer

Phobia

Question 7

Which of the following dependence-causing drugs is most commonly abused worldwide?

Accepted Answer

Cannabis

Answer

Heroin

Answer

Amphetamine

Answer

Cocaine

Question 8

A patient was on lithium therapy for bipolar disorder for 6 months. She fasted for few days due to religious reasons and presented with coarse tremors, abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness & confusion. Which of the following should be done to assess her condition?

Accepted Answer

S. lithium levels

Answer

ECG

Answer

MRI

Answer

S. electrolytes

Question 9

The most widely used substance causing dependence worldwide is:

Accepted Answer

Alcohol

Answer

Cocaine

Answer

Cannabis

Answer

Amphetamines

NEET-PG 2020 — Psychiatry