Psychotherapies Practice Questions

Q: Systematic desensitization is a therapeutic technique used in which of the following conditions?

Phobia. **Explanation:** **Systematic Desensitization** is a behavioral therapy technique developed by **Joseph Wolpe**, based on the principle of **Classical Conditioning** (specifically **Reciprocal Inhibition**). The core concept is that a person cannot be anxious and relaxed at the same time. It involves three steps: training in deep muscle relaxation (Jacobson’s Progressive Muscle Relaxation), constructing a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking stimuli, and gradual exposure to these stimuli while maintaining a relaxed state. * **Why Phobia is Correct:** Systematic desensitization is the treatment of choice for **Specific Phobias** (e.g., fear of heights, spiders). By pairing the feared object with relaxation, the "anxiety response" is replaced by a "relaxation response" (Counter-conditioning). **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Dissociation:** Managed primarily through supportive psychotherapy, hypnosis, or "Amobarbital interviews" to recover repressed memories, rather than behavioral conditioning. * **Schizoid Personality:** This is a personality disorder characterized by social detachment. Treatment focuses on social skills training or supportive therapy; desensitization is ineffective as there is no specific phobic stimulus. * **Psychosis:** Conditions like Schizophrenia require pharmacotherapy (Antipsychotics). Behavioral therapies are used only for social rehabilitation, not for treating core psychotic symptoms. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Founder:** Joseph Wolpe. * **Basis:** Reciprocal Inhibition / Counter-conditioning. * **Hierarchy:** Uses the **SUD scale** (Subjective Units of Distress) to rank fears. * **In-vivo vs. Imaginal:** While Wolpe used imaginal exposure, **In-vivo exposure** (real-life) is now considered more effective for most phobias. * **Flooding:** A related technique where the patient is exposed to the maximum intensity of the feared stimulus immediately (preventing the avoidance response).

Q: What are the indications for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)?

Depression with suicidal tendency. **Explanation:** Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a biological treatment involving the induction of a generalized seizure through electrical stimulation. In modern psychiatry, the primary indication for ECT is when a **rapid clinical response** is required or when pharmacological treatments have failed. **Why Option B is Correct:** Severe **Depression with suicidal tendency** is the absolute first-line indication for ECT. When a patient is actively suicidal, the 2–4 week lag period of antidepressants is too risky. ECT provides the fastest reduction in depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, making it a life-saving intervention in emergency psychiatry. Other major indications include severe catatonia and treatment-resistant mania. **Why Other Options are Incorrect:** * **A. Paranoid Schizophrenia:** While ECT can be used as an adjunct in schizophrenia (especially if catatonic or affective symptoms are present), it is not the primary or first-line treatment. Antipsychotics remain the mainstay. * **C. Neurotic Depression:** Also known as Dysthymia or Persistent Depressive Disorder, this condition is characterized by low-grade, chronic symptoms often linked to personality and psychosocial stressors. It responds better to psychotherapy and SSRIs; ECT is generally ineffective for non-psychotic, neurotic-level depression. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Most common side effect:** Retrograde amnesia (usually resolves). * **Absolute Contraindication:** There are no absolute contraindications, but **Increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP)** is the most significant relative contraindication due to the risk of brain herniation. * **Modified ECT:** Involves the use of an anesthetic (Thiopental/Propofol) and a muscle relaxant (**Succinylcholine**) to prevent bone fractures. * **Electrode Placement:** Bilateral (Gold standard for efficacy) vs. Unilateral (Lower cognitive side effects).

Q: A child who wins the first prize in school is given chocolates that he likes. He tends to get high marks in the future. This scenario best illustrates which line of therapy?

Behavior therapy. ### Explanation The scenario described is a classic example of **Operant Conditioning**, a core principle of **Behavior Therapy**. **Why Behavior Therapy is Correct:** The child’s behavior (studying hard/winning a prize) is followed by a rewarding stimulus (chocolates). This is known as **Positive Reinforcement**. According to B.F. Skinner’s theory of Operant Conditioning, when a behavior is followed by a desirable consequence, the probability of that behavior being repeated in the future increases. Behavior therapy focuses on modifying observable actions through reinforcement, punishment, or extinction. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT):** Focuses on improving current interpersonal relationships and social functioning to resolve symptoms (commonly used in depression). It does not use reward-based conditioning. * **C. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):** A specific type of CBT used primarily for Borderline Personality Disorder. it focuses on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness. * **D. Dynamic Therapy:** Based on Psychoanalysis (Freud), it explores unconscious conflicts, childhood experiences, and defense mechanisms rather than focusing on immediate behavioral modification through rewards. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Positive Reinforcement:** Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., chocolates for high marks). * **Negative Reinforcement:** Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., taking an aspirin to remove a headache). * **Token Economy:** A specialized form of behavior therapy often used in psychiatric wards where patients earn "tokens" (secondary reinforcers) for desired behaviors, which can be exchanged for rewards. * **Systematic Desensitization:** Another behavior therapy technique based on *Classical Conditioning* (Wolpe) used for phobias.

Q: All of the following psychotherapy modalities are used to treat anxiety disorders except?

Sensate focus therapy. ### Explanation The correct answer is **D. Sensate focus therapy**. **1. Why Sensate Focus Therapy is the correct answer:** Sensate focus therapy is a specific behavioral technique developed by **Masters and Johnson**. It is primarily used to treat **sexual dysfunctions** (such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and female orgasmic disorder) by reducing "spectatoring" and performance anxiety during intimacy. It involves a series of graduated touching exercises where the focus is on physical sensation rather than sexual arousal or intercourse. It is **not** a primary modality for generalized or phobic anxiety disorders. **2. Analysis of Incorrect Options (Used in Anxiety Disorders):** * **A. Systematic Desensitization:** Developed by **Joseph Wolpe**, this is a classic behavioral therapy for **Phobias**. It involves pairing a relaxation response with a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking stimuli (counter-conditioning). * **B. Relaxation Techniques:** Methods like Jacobson’s Progressive Muscle Relaxation (JPMR) and deep breathing are core components in managing **Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)** and Panic Disorder to physiological arousal. * **C. Flooding:** This is a form of exposure therapy where the patient is directly exposed to their maximum feared stimulus for a prolonged period until the anxiety response extinguishes. It is used for **Specific Phobias** and **PTSD**. **3. Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Reciprocal Inhibition:** The underlying principle of Systematic Desensitization (one cannot be relaxed and anxious simultaneously). * **Spectatoring:** A key concept in Sensate Focus where the individual monitors their own sexual performance from a third-person perspective, leading to dysfunction. * **First-line Psychotherapy:** For most anxiety disorders (OCD, Panic, Phobias), **Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)** is considered the gold standard.

Q: Cognitive therapy for depression was developed by whom?

Beck. **Explanation:** **Correct Answer: B. Beck** Cognitive Therapy (CT) was developed by **Aaron T. Beck** in the 1960s. The core concept is that depression is maintained by distorted thinking patterns. Beck identified the **"Cognitive Triad"** of depression, which consists of negative views about: 1. **The Self** (e.g., "I am worthless") 2. **The World/Environment** (e.g., "Everything is unfair") 3. **The Future** (e.g., "Things will never get better") The therapy aims to identify and challenge these "automatic negative thoughts" and underlying maladaptive schemas. **Incorrect Options:** * **A. Ellis:** Albert Ellis developed **Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)**. While it is a form of CBT, it focuses on the "ABC" model (Activating event, Beliefs, Consequences) and uses more confrontational techniques to dispute irrational beliefs. * **C. Godfrey:** This is a distractor and is not associated with a major school of psychotherapy relevant to NEET-PG. * **D. Meichenbaum:** Donald Meichenbaum is known for **Cognitive Behavior Modification** and **Stress Inoculation Training (SIT)**, which helps patients prepare for stressful events using self-instructional training. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Cognitive Distortions:** Common examples include *Arbitrary Inference* (jumping to conclusions) and *All-or-nothing thinking*. * **Indication:** CBT is the first-line non-pharmacological treatment for mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety disorders. * **Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):** Developed by **Marsha Linehan**, specifically for Borderline Personality Disorder. * **Interpersonal Therapy (IPT):** Developed by **Klerman and Weissman**, focusing on social roles and relationships.

Q: Deep brain stimulation is used in the treatment of which of the following conditions?

Parkinsonism. **Explanation:** **Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)** is a neurosurgical procedure involving the implantation of electrodes into specific brain targets, which are connected to an implanted pulse generator (IPG). It acts as a "brain pacemaker" to modulate abnormal neural activity. **Why Parkinsonism is Correct:** DBS is a well-established, FDA-approved treatment for advanced **Parkinson’s disease**, particularly when motor fluctuations (like dyskinesia) become refractory to medical therapy (Levodopa). The most common targets are the **Subthalamic Nucleus (STN)** and the **Globus Pallidus interna (GPi)**. By delivering high-frequency electrical stimulation, DBS suppresses the overactive inhibitory output of these nuclei, thereby improving tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. **Why Other Options are Incorrect:** * **Depression:** While DBS is being researched for treatment-resistant depression (targeting the Subgenual Cingulate Cortex/Area 25), it is **not** a standard or first-line treatment. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) remains the gold standard for refractory depression. * **Dementia & Delirium:** These are characterized by diffuse cortical dysfunction or acute metabolic/toxic insults. DBS is a focal neuromodulation technique and is not indicated for the global cognitive decline of dementia or the acute fluctuating sensorium of delirium. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Psychiatric Indications:** In psychiatry, the only FDA-approved use for DBS (under a Humanitarian Device Exemption) is for **Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)**. The target is the **Ventral Striatum/Internal Capsule**. * **Other Targets:** * Essential Tremor: Ventral Intermediate Nucleus (Vim) of the Thalamus. * Dystonia: Globus Pallidus interna (GPi). * **Contraindication:** DBS is generally avoided in patients with significant cognitive impairment or active psychosis.

Q: Dialectical behavior therapy is used in the management of which of the following conditions?

Borderline personality disorder. **Explanation:** **Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)**, developed by Marsha Linehan, is the gold-standard evidence-based psychotherapy specifically designed for **Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)**. The core concept of DBT is the "dialectical" balance between **acceptance** (validating the patient’s current feelings) and **change** (learning new skills to modify maladaptive behaviors). It targets the emotional dysregulation, chronic suicidality, and self-harming behaviors characteristic of BPD by focusing on four key modules: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Emotional Regulation. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Narcissistic Personality Disorder:** Primarily managed with psychodynamic psychotherapy or CBT focusing on empathy development; DBT is not the primary modality. * **C. Antisocial Personality Disorder:** This is notoriously difficult to treat. Management often involves CBT or contingency management in forensic settings, but DBT is not the standard of care. * **D. Anankastic (Obsessive-Compulsive) Personality Disorder:** The treatment of choice is typically CBT or psychodynamic therapy to address rigidity and perfectionism. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Origin:** DBT was originally developed to treat chronically suicidal individuals with BPD. * **Components:** It involves individual therapy, group skills training, and phone coaching. * **Other Indications:** DBT is now also used for Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and treatment-resistant depression. * **Keywords for BPD:** "Splitting" (defense mechanism), "Micropsychotic episodes," "Unstable relationships," and "Impulsivity."

Q: Who introduced the concept of free association in psychotherapy?

Freud. ### Explanation **Correct Option: B. Freud** Sigmund Freud, the father of Psychoanalysis, introduced **Free Association** as a replacement for hypnosis. In this technique, the patient is encouraged to verbalize every thought that comes to mind without censorship or logical filtering. The underlying medical concept is that by bypassing conscious "editing," the patient reveals unconscious conflicts, repressed memories, and desires. Freud believed these unconscious elements are the root of neurotic symptoms, and bringing them to conscious awareness is the primary goal of psychoanalytic therapy. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Bleuler:** Eugen Bleuler is famous for coining the term "Schizophrenia" and describing the **4 A’s** (Association, Affect, Ambivalence, and Autism). He did not develop free association. * **C. Lorenz:** Konrad Lorenz was an ethologist known for his work on **Imprinting** in animals (specifically geese), a concept related to attachment and critical periods in development. * **D. Erikson:** Erik Erikson developed the **Psychosocial Stages of Development** (e.g., Trust vs. Mistrust), focusing on how social interaction and ego identity evolve across the entire lifespan. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **The "Fundamental Rule":** In psychoanalysis, the instruction to the patient to use free association is often called the "fundamental rule." * **Resistance:** When a patient pauses, changes the subject, or becomes silent during free association, it is clinically interpreted as "resistance" to uncovering painful unconscious material. * **Transference:** A key phenomenon in Freud’s therapy where the patient redirects feelings for significant others onto the therapist. * **Dream Analysis:** Freud considered dreams the "Royal Road to the Unconscious," often used alongside free association.

Q: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is contraindicated in which of the following conditions?

Raised intracranial pressure. **Explanation:** **Raised Intracranial Pressure (ICP)** is the only absolute contraindication for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). During the procedure, the induced seizure and the physiological response to the electrical stimulus cause a transient but significant increase in cerebral blood flow and blood pressure. In patients with pre-existing raised ICP (e.g., due to a space-occupying lesion), this surge can lead to **brain herniation**, which is life-threatening. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Pregnancy (A):** ECT is considered safe and is often the treatment of choice for severe depression or psychosis in pregnancy when rapid response is needed or medications pose a fetal risk. * **Seizure Disorder (B):** ECT is not contraindicated; in fact, it has anticonvulsant properties by raising the seizure threshold over a course of treatment. * **Mania (C):** Acute mania is a standard indication for ECT, especially when it is refractory to mood stabilizers or associated with exhaustion. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Absolute Contraindication:** Increased ICP is the only one. * **Relative Contraindications:** Recent myocardial infarction (within 4–6 weeks), recent CVA, severe hypertension, and retinal detachment. * **Most Common Side Effect:** Retrograde amnesia (memory loss). * **Mortality Rate:** Approximately 0.01%, similar to that of general anesthesia for minor surgery. * **Mechanism:** ECT works by modulating neurotransmitter receptors and increasing Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).

Q: The squeeze technique is used for which of the following conditions?

Premature ejaculation. **Explanation:** The **Squeeze Technique** is a behavioral therapy intervention specifically designed for the management of **Premature Ejaculation (PE)**. It was popularized by Masters and Johnson as part of sex therapy. **Why Premature Ejaculation is correct:** The technique involves the partner applying firm pressure to the frenulum of the glans penis when the patient feels the urge to ejaculate. This pressure causes a temporary loss of the urge and a slight decrease in erection, thereby delaying ejaculation. Over time, this helps the patient develop better sensory awareness and voluntary control over the ejaculatory reflex. A similar behavioral method is the **"Stop-Start technique"** (developed by Semans). **Why the other options are incorrect:** * **Impotence (Erectile Dysfunction):** This is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection. Treatment typically involves PDE-5 inhibitors (Sildenafil), vacuum devices, or psychotherapy focusing on performance anxiety, but not the squeeze technique (which actually reduces tumescence). * **Infertility:** This refers to the biological inability to conceive. It is managed via hormonal therapy, surgery, or assisted reproductive techniques (IVF/IUI). * **Priapism:** This is a medical emergency involving a persistent, painful erection lasting >4 hours. It requires urgent aspiration of blood or sympathomimetic injections (e.g., Phenylephrine). **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **First-line Pharmacotherapy for PE:** SSRIs (specifically **Dapoxetine** due to its rapid onset and short half-life). * **Masters and Johnson:** Known for the "Human Sexual Response Cycle" (Excitement, Plateau, Orgasm, Resolution). * **Dual Therapy:** Masters and Johnson emphasized treating the couple as a unit rather than the individual.

Question 1

Systematic desensitization is a therapeutic technique used in which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Phobia

Answer

Dissociation

Answer

Schizoid personality

Answer

Psychosis

Question 2

What are the indications for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)?

Accepted Answer

Depression with suicidal tendency

Answer

Paranoid schizophrenia

Answer

Neurotic depression

Answer

All of the above

Question 3

A child who wins the first prize in school is given chocolates that he likes. He tends to get high marks in the future. This scenario best illustrates which line of therapy?

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapy

Answer

Interpersonal therapy

Answer

Dialectic therapy

Answer

Dynamic therapy

Question 4

All of the following psychotherapy modalities are used to treat anxiety disorders except?

Accepted Answer

Sensate focus therapy

Answer

Systemic desensitization

Answer

Relaxation techniques

Answer

Flooding

Question 5

Cognitive therapy for depression was developed by whom?

Accepted Answer

Beck

Answer

Ellis

Answer

Godfrey

Answer

Meicheinbanon

Question 6

Deep brain stimulation is used in the treatment of which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Parkinsonism

Answer

Depression

Answer

Dementia

Answer

Delirium

Question 7

Dialectical behavior therapy is used in the management of which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Borderline personality disorder

Answer

Narcissistic personality disorder

Answer

Antisocial personality disorder

Answer

Anankastic personality disorder

Question 8

Who introduced the concept of free association in psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Freud

Answer

Bleuler

Answer

Lorenz

Answer

Erikson

Question 9

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is contraindicated in which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Raised intracranial pressure

Answer

Pregnancy

Answer

Seizure disorder

Answer

Mania

Question 10

The squeeze technique is used for which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Premature ejaculation

Answer

Impotence

Answer

Infertility

Answer

Priapism

Psychotherapies — MCQs

Psychotherapies — MCQs

On this page

Practice by Chapter

Want unlimited practice?