Anxiety disorders: 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 · Anxiety disorders

Sample item

A 28-year-old woman has repeated episodes of sudden palpitations, sweating, trembling and a feeling of impending doom that peak within 10 minutes. Between episodes she fears another attack and avoids travelling alone. Her thyroid profile and ECG are normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Panic disorder with agoraphobia

Panic disorder consists of recurrent unexpected panic attacks followed by persistent worry about further attacks or behavioural change. Agoraphobia often develops from avoidance of places where escape is difficult. SSRIs and cognitive behaviour therapy are the first-line long-term treatments.

Option by option

  • A. Generalised anxiety disorder

    Generalised anxiety disorder shows continuous excessive worry over months without discrete peaking attacks.

  • B. Panic disorder with agoraphobia (correct)

    Correct. Recurrent abrupt attacks peaking in minutes with anticipatory fear and avoidance define it.

  • C. Specific phobia

    A specific phobia is fear of a particular object or situation, not unexpected attacks.

  • D. Acute stress disorder

    Acute stress disorder follows a traumatic event and lasts from 3 days to 1 month.

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, Panic disorder with agoraphobia. Panic disorder consists of recurrent unexpected panic attacks followed by persistent worry about further attacks or behavioural change.

Why is "Generalised anxiety disorder" not the answer?

Generalised anxiety disorder shows continuous excessive worry over months without discrete peaking attacks.

Why is "Specific phobia" not the answer?

A specific phobia is fear of a particular object or situation, not unexpected attacks.

Why is "Acute stress disorder" not the answer?

Acute stress disorder follows a traumatic event and lasts from 3 days to 1 month.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Anxiety disorders in Psychiatry. Agoraphobia often develops from avoidance of places where escape is difficult. SSRIs and cognitive behaviour therapy are the first-line long-term treatments.

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 Anxiety disorders?

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.