Anxiety and related disorders: benzodiazepines in GAD: 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 and related disorders: benzodiazepines in GAD

Sample item

A woman with generalised anxiety disorder starts an SSRI and is severely distressed in the first weeks. How should a benzodiazepine be used if added?

AShort course only, as a bridge until the SSRI takes effectBIndefinitely as the main treatmentCAs the sole drug, taken daily for yearsDIn a progressively increasing dose to prevent tolerance

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Short course only, as a bridge until the SSRI takes effect

Benzodiazepines relieve anxiety quickly but cause tolerance and dependence, so they should be limited to a brief course, usually a few weeks, while an SSRI or other long-term treatment starts working.

Option by option

A. Short course only, as a bridge until the SSRI takes effect (correct)
Correct. Short-term bridging while the SSRI takes effect limits dependence risk.
B. Indefinitely as the main treatment
Indefinite use leads to tolerance, dependence and cognitive effects.
C. As the sole drug, taken daily for years
Long-term sole use carries the same risks and is not recommended.
D. In a progressively increasing dose to prevent tolerance
Escalating doses worsen dependence and do not prevent tolerance.

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 A, Short course only, as a bridge until the SSRI takes effect. Benzodiazepines relieve anxiety quickly but cause tolerance and dependence, so they should be limited to a brief course, usually a few weeks, while an SSRI or other long-term treatment starts working.

Why is "Indefinitely as the main treatment" not the answer?

Indefinite use leads to tolerance, dependence and cognitive effects.

Why is "As the sole drug, taken daily for years" not the answer?

Long-term sole use carries the same risks and is not recommended.

Why is "In a progressively increasing dose to prevent tolerance" not the answer?

Escalating doses worsen dependence and do not prevent tolerance.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Anxiety and related disorders: benzodiazepines in GAD in Psychiatry. The correct option holds because: Correct. Short-term bridging while the SSRI takes effect limits dependence risk.

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 and related disorders: benzodiazepines in GAD?

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.