Obsessive-compulsive disorder: 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 · Obsessive-compulsive disorder: treatment

Sample item

A patient repeatedly washes her hands to reduce distress from contamination obsessions. Which psychotherapy has the strongest disorder-specific evidence as a first-line treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Exposure and response prevention

Exposure and response prevention gradually exposes the person to feared cues while preventing the ritual that temporarily reduces anxiety. Repeated learning weakens the obsession-compulsion cycle.

Option by option

  • A. Sleep restriction therapy

    Sleep restriction is a behavioral treatment for insomnia.

  • B. Supportive counseling alone

    Supportive counseling may help engagement but does not specifically interrupt compulsions.

  • C. Interpersonal psychotherapy

    Interpersonal psychotherapy is better established for depression than OCD.

  • D. Exposure and response prevention (correct)

    Correct. ERP directly targets both avoidance and compulsive neutralization.

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 D, Exposure and response prevention. Exposure and response prevention gradually exposes the person to feared cues while preventing the ritual that temporarily reduces anxiety.

Why is "Sleep restriction therapy" not the answer?

Sleep restriction is a behavioral treatment for insomnia.

Why is "Supportive counseling alone" not the answer?

Supportive counseling may help engagement but does not specifically interrupt compulsions.

Why is "Interpersonal psychotherapy" not the answer?

Interpersonal psychotherapy is better established for depression than OCD.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Obsessive-compulsive disorder: treatment in Psychiatry. Repeated learning weakens the obsession-compulsion cycle.

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: 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.