Mood disorders: sleep deprivation: 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 · Mood disorders: sleep deprivation

Sample item

A hospitalised patient with severe depression shows a brief, rapid improvement in mood the morning after a night of total sleep deprivation, but the effect is lost after recovery sleep. How is this finding best described?

AEvidence that the patient has maniaBA sign of antidepressant treatment resistanceCA permanent cure of the depressive episodeDA transient antidepressant effect, which is usually followed by relapse after sleep

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. A transient antidepressant effect, which is usually followed by relapse after sleep

Total or partial sleep deprivation (wake therapy) produces a rapid antidepressant effect in many patients, particularly with melancholic features, but relapse commonly follows recovery sleep. It can be combined with other treatments to sustain benefit.

Option by option

A. Evidence that the patient has mania
A brief improvement does not indicate a switch to mania in this setting.
B. A sign of antidepressant treatment resistance
A transient response does not define treatment resistance.
C. A permanent cure of the depressive episode
The improvement is not permanent, as relapse follows recovery sleep.
D. A transient antidepressant effect, which is usually followed by relapse after sleep (correct)
Correct. Wake therapy has a fast but usually short-lived antidepressant effect.

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, A transient antidepressant effect, which is usually followed by relapse after sleep. Total or partial sleep deprivation (wake therapy) produces a rapid antidepressant effect in many patients, particularly with melancholic features, but relapse commonly follows recovery sleep.

Why is "Evidence that the patient has mania" not the answer?

A brief improvement does not indicate a switch to mania in this setting.

Why is "A sign of antidepressant treatment resistance" not the answer?

A transient response does not define treatment resistance.

Why is "A permanent cure of the depressive episode" not the answer?

The improvement is not permanent, as relapse follows recovery sleep.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Mood disorders: sleep deprivation in Psychiatry. It can be combined with other treatments to sustain benefit.

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 Mood disorders: sleep deprivation?

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.