Schizophrenia: post-schizophrenic depression: 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.

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Psychiatry · Schizophrenia: post-schizophrenic depression

Sample item

Under ICD-10, a patient with schizophrenia in the past 12 months, now with few residual psychotic symptoms, develops a prolonged depressive episode. Which diagnosis is made?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Post-schizophrenic depression

ICD-10 has a category of post-schizophrenic depression, a depressive episode arising in the aftermath of schizophrenia while some schizophrenic symptoms persist. It carries a raised suicide risk and is treated with an antidepressant added to the antipsychotic. Schizoaffective disorder needs both symptom sets prominent at the same time.

Option by option

  • A. Major depression with psychotic features

    Psychotic depression has no preceding schizophrenic illness.

  • B. Schizoaffective disorder, depressive type

    Schizoaffective disorder requires affective and schizophrenic symptoms concurrently in the same episode.

  • C. Adjustment disorder

    Adjustment disorder requires a stressor and does not fit a post-psychotic depressive episode.

  • D. Post-schizophrenic depression (correct)

    Correct. Depression following schizophrenia with residual psychosis is post-schizophrenic depression.

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.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, Post-schizophrenic depression. ICD-10 has a category of post-schizophrenic depression, a depressive episode arising in the aftermath of schizophrenia while some schizophrenic symptoms persist.

Why is "Major depression with psychotic features" not the answer?

Psychotic depression has no preceding schizophrenic illness.

Why is "Schizoaffective disorder, depressive type" not the answer?

Schizoaffective disorder requires affective and schizophrenic symptoms concurrently in the same episode.

Why is "Adjustment disorder" not the answer?

Adjustment disorder requires a stressor and does not fit a post-psychotic depressive episode.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Schizophrenia: post-schizophrenic depression in Psychiatry. It carries a raised suicide risk and is treated with an antidepressant added to the antipsychotic. Schizoaffective disorder needs both symptom sets prominent at the same time.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Schizophrenia: post-schizophrenic depression?

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.