Child and adolescent psychiatry: core intervention for autism: 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 · Child and adolescent psychiatry: core intervention for autism

Sample item

Parents of a 3-year-old with newly diagnosed autism ask which treatment improves the core social and communication difficulties. What is the best approach?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Early intensive behavioural and developmental intervention

Early, intensive, structured behavioural and developmental therapy involving parents, together with speech therapy, is the cornerstone of treatment. Drugs do not treat the core deficits and are reserved for associated problems like severe irritability.

Option by option

  • A. Daily risperidone

    Risperidone treats irritability and aggression but not the core deficits.

  • B. A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

    SSRIs have not been shown to improve social communication in autism.

  • C. Early intensive behavioural and developmental intervention (correct)

    Correct. Early intensive intervention addresses the core deficits.

  • D. Methylphenidate

    Methylphenidate may help co-occurring inattention but not the core deficits.

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 C, Early intensive behavioural and developmental intervention. Early, intensive, structured behavioural and developmental therapy involving parents, together with speech therapy, is the cornerstone of treatment.

Why is "Daily risperidone" not the answer?

Risperidone treats irritability and aggression but not the core deficits.

Why is "A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor" not the answer?

SSRIs have not been shown to improve social communication in autism.

Why is "Methylphenidate" not the answer?

Methylphenidate may help co-occurring inattention but not the core deficits.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Child and adolescent psychiatry: core intervention for autism in Psychiatry. Drugs do not treat the core deficits and are reserved for associated problems like severe irritability.

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 Child and adolescent psychiatry: core intervention for autism?

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.