Psychotic disorders: shared psychotic disorder management: 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.

Try it

Psychiatry · Psychotic disorders: shared psychotic disorder management

Sample item

A woman develops the same delusion of being poisoned as her dominant, psychotic husband with whom she lives in isolation. What is the first step in management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Separate her from the primary case

In shared psychotic disorder (folie a deux) the induced person often recovers when separated from the dominant partner. The primary case is treated with antipsychotics. Antipsychotics for the induced person are added if the delusion persists after separation.

Option by option

  • A. Admit both to the same room

    Keeping them together maintains the inducing relationship.

  • B. Start clozapine for her immediately

    Clozapine is not first-line and separation may be enough.

  • C. Separate her from the primary case (correct)

    Correct. Separation often resolves the induced delusion.

  • D. Ignore the delusion

    Ignoring the problem fails to treat the illness.

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.

More Psychiatry questions

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Separate her from the primary case. In shared psychotic disorder (folie a deux) the induced person often recovers when separated from the dominant partner.

Why is "Admit both to the same room" not the answer?

Keeping them together maintains the inducing relationship.

Why is "Start clozapine for her immediately" not the answer?

Clozapine is not first-line and separation may be enough.

Why is "Ignore the delusion" not the answer?

Ignoring the problem fails to treat the illness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychotic disorders: shared psychotic disorder management in Psychiatry. The primary case is treated with antipsychotics. Antipsychotics for the induced person are added if the delusion persists after separation.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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 Psychotic disorders: shared psychotic disorder management?

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.