Organic psychiatry: delirium drug treatment: 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 · Organic psychiatry: delirium drug treatment

Sample item

A 78-year-old with hyperactive delirium after pneumonia is distressed and trying to pull out his drip. After non-drug measures fail, which drug is the usual choice?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Low-dose haloperidol

Low-dose haloperidol, for example 0.5 to 1 mg, is the usual drug to control dangerous agitation in delirium, after treating the cause and using environmental measures. Benzodiazepines can worsen confusion except in alcohol or sedative withdrawal. Anticholinergic drugs such as amitriptyline can precipitate delirium.

Option by option

  • A. Phenobarbitone

    Barbiturates add sedation and respiratory risk.

  • B. Low-dose haloperidol (correct)

    Correct. Low-dose haloperidol is standard for severe agitation.

  • C. Amitriptyline

    Amitriptyline is anticholinergic and may aggravate delirium.

  • D. High-dose diazepam

    High-dose diazepam may worsen confusion and cause respiratory 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 B, Low-dose haloperidol. Low-dose haloperidol, for example 0.

Why is "Phenobarbitone" not the answer?

Barbiturates add sedation and respiratory risk.

Why is "Amitriptyline" not the answer?

Amitriptyline is anticholinergic and may aggravate delirium.

Why is "High-dose diazepam" not the answer?

High-dose diazepam may worsen confusion and cause respiratory depression.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Organic psychiatry: delirium drug treatment in Psychiatry. 5 to 1 mg, is the usual drug to control dangerous agitation in delirium, after treating the cause and using environmental measures. Benzodiazepines can worsen confusion except in alcohol or sedative withdrawal. Anticholinergic drugs such as amitriptyline can precipitate delirium.

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 Organic psychiatry: delirium drug treatment?

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.