Child psychiatry: Tourette 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 · Child psychiatry: Tourette treatment

Sample item

A 12-year-old with Tourette disorder has frequent disabling vocal and motor tics despite behavioural therapy. Which drug is commonly used?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Aripiprazole or risperidone

Habit reversal training (comprehensive behavioural intervention for tics) is first-line. For disabling tics, aripiprazole, risperidone, haloperidol, pimozide and alpha-2 agonists are used. SSRIs treat comorbid OCD but not tics.

Option by option

  • A. Lithium

    Lithium is not used for tics.

  • B. Aripiprazole or risperidone (correct)

    Correct. Aripiprazole and risperidone are used for disabling tics.

  • C. Amitriptyline

    Amitriptyline is not used for tics.

  • D. Fluoxetine alone

    Fluoxetine alone does not control tics.

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, Aripiprazole or risperidone. Habit reversal training (comprehensive behavioural intervention for tics) is first-line.

Why is "Lithium" not the answer?

Lithium is not used for tics.

Why is "Amitriptyline" not the answer?

Amitriptyline is not used for tics.

Why is "Fluoxetine alone" not the answer?

Fluoxetine alone does not control tics.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Child psychiatry: Tourette treatment in Psychiatry. For disabling tics, aripiprazole, risperidone, haloperidol, pimozide and alpha-2 agonists are used. SSRIs treat comorbid OCD but not tics.

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 Child psychiatry: Tourette 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.