Organic mental disorders: prevention of delirium: 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 mental disorders: prevention of delirium

Sample item

An 80-year-old woman is admitted after a hip fracture and is at high risk of delirium. Which strategy best lowers the chance of delirium?

APhysical restraints to prevent fallsBProphylactic haloperidol for every patientCA benzodiazepine every night for sleepDMulticomponent non-drug care addressing orientation, sleep, senses and mobility

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Multicomponent non-drug care addressing orientation, sleep, senses and mobility

Multicomponent, non-pharmacological programmes that correct sensory deficits, maintain orientation and sleep, hydrate and mobilise patients are the best-supported way to prevent delirium in older inpatients. Sedatives and restraints can worsen delirium.

Option by option

A. Physical restraints to prevent falls
Restraints increase agitation, injury and delirium.
B. Prophylactic haloperidol for every patient
Routine antipsychotic prophylaxis is not recommended and exposes patients to adverse effects.
C. A benzodiazepine every night for sleep
Benzodiazepines are deliriogenic in the elderly and should be avoided.
D. Multicomponent non-drug care addressing orientation, sleep, senses and mobility (correct)
Correct. Addressing modifiable risk factors prevents delirium.

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.

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, Multicomponent non-drug care addressing orientation, sleep, senses and mobility. Multicomponent, non-pharmacological programmes that correct sensory deficits, maintain orientation and sleep, hydrate and mobilise patients are the best-supported way to prevent delirium in older inpatients.

Why is "Physical restraints to prevent falls" not the answer?

Restraints increase agitation, injury and delirium.

Why is "Prophylactic haloperidol for every patient" not the answer?

Routine antipsychotic prophylaxis is not recommended and exposes patients to adverse effects.

Why is "A benzodiazepine every night for sleep" not the answer?

Benzodiazepines are deliriogenic in the elderly and should be avoided.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Organic mental disorders: prevention of delirium in Psychiatry. Sedatives and restraints can worsen 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 mental disorders: prevention of delirium?

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.