Psychopharmacology: SSRI exposure late in pregnancy: 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 · Psychopharmacology: SSRI exposure late in pregnancy

Sample item

A woman took an SSRI throughout pregnancy. Her newborn develops tachypnoea and cyanosis with a loud second heart sound, and echocardiography shows raised pulmonary pressure with a structurally normal heart. Which condition fits best?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

SSRI exposure after 20 weeks of gestation is associated with a small increase in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Neonatal adaptation symptoms such as jitteriness and poor feeding may also occur.

Option by option

  • A. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia

    Diaphragmatic hernia is a structural defect and not linked to SSRIs.

  • B. Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (correct)

    Correct. Late-pregnancy SSRI exposure is linked to this condition.

  • C. Neural tube defect

    Neural tube defects are linked to valproate and carbamazepine, not to SSRIs.

  • D. Ebstein anomaly

    Ebstein anomaly is a structural valve defect linked to lithium.

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, Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. SSRI exposure after 20 weeks of gestation is associated with a small increase in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.

Why is "Congenital diaphragmatic hernia" not the answer?

Diaphragmatic hernia is a structural defect and not linked to SSRIs.

Why is "Neural tube defect" not the answer?

Neural tube defects are linked to valproate and carbamazepine, not to SSRIs.

Why is "Ebstein anomaly" not the answer?

Ebstein anomaly is a structural valve defect linked to lithium.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychopharmacology: SSRI exposure late in pregnancy in Psychiatry. Neonatal adaptation symptoms such as jitteriness and poor feeding may also occur.

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 Psychopharmacology: SSRI exposure late in pregnancy?

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.