Obsessive-compulsive disorder: 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 · Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Sample item

What differentiates an obsession from a delusion?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Obsession is experienced as intrusive and unwanted

Obsessions are recurrent intrusive thoughts usually recognized as excessive or unwanted, whereas delusions are fixed false beliefs held with conviction.

Option by option

  • A. Obsession is always true

    Obsessions are not defined by truth.

  • B. Obsession is experienced as intrusive and unwanted (correct)

    Correct: obsessions are ego-dystonic intrusive experiences.

  • C. Delusion is a voluntary ritual

    A voluntary ritual is a compulsion, not a delusion.

  • D. They are identical

    Obsessions and delusions have different levels of insight and structure.

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, Obsession is experienced as intrusive and unwanted. Obsessions are recurrent intrusive thoughts usually recognized as excessive or unwanted, whereas delusions are fixed false beliefs held with conviction.

Why is "Obsession is always true" not the answer?

Obsessions are not defined by truth.

Why is "Delusion is a voluntary ritual" not the answer?

A voluntary ritual is a compulsion, not a delusion.

Why is "They are identical" not the answer?

Obsessions and delusions have different levels of insight and structure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Obsessive-compulsive disorder in Psychiatry. The correct option holds because: Correct: obsessions are ego-dystonic intrusive experiences.

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 Obsessive-compulsive disorder?

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.