Schizophrenia: CATIE trial: 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: CATIE trial

Sample item

In the CATIE trial of chronic schizophrenia, which finding was reported?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Olanzapine had the lowest discontinuation rate but caused the most weight gain and metabolic effects

CATIE compared olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone and the first-generation drug perphenazine. Discontinuation for any cause was high overall, lowest with olanzapine, which also had the worst metabolic profile. Perphenazine performed about as well as the newer drugs, which challenged assumptions of superiority.

Option by option

  • A. Olanzapine had the lowest discontinuation rate but caused the most weight gain and metabolic effects (correct)

    Correct. Olanzapine was the most effective on retention but with metabolic cost.

  • B. Risperidone caused more tardive dyskinesia than haloperidol

    The trial did not show that risperidone had more tardive dyskinesia than haloperidol.

  • C. Perphenazine was clearly inferior to all second-generation drugs

    Perphenazine was not clearly inferior; it performed comparably to most newer agents.

  • D. Clozapine was the commonest first choice

    Clozapine was not a first-line arm in the main phase of CATIE.

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 A, Olanzapine had the lowest discontinuation rate but caused the most weight gain and metabolic effects. CATIE compared olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone and the first-generation drug perphenazine.

Why is "Risperidone caused more tardive dyskinesia than haloperidol" not the answer?

The trial did not show that risperidone had more tardive dyskinesia than haloperidol.

Why is "Perphenazine was clearly inferior to all second-generation drugs" not the answer?

Perphenazine was not clearly inferior; it performed comparably to most newer agents.

Why is "Clozapine was the commonest first choice" not the answer?

Clozapine was not a first-line arm in the main phase of CATIE.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Schizophrenia: CATIE trial in Psychiatry. Discontinuation for any cause was high overall, lowest with olanzapine, which also had the worst metabolic profile. Perphenazine performed about as well as the newer drugs, which challenged assumptions of superiority.

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: CATIE trial?

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.