Child and adolescent psychiatry: treatment of encopresis: 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: treatment of encopresis

Sample item

A 6-year-old soils his underwear daily and has hard stools with a palpable faecal mass. What is the most appropriate management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Disimpaction and laxatives with scheduled toilet sitting

Retentive encopresis with overflow incontinence is treated by clearing the impaction, giving laxatives to keep stools soft, and routine toilet sitting with positive reinforcement. Punishment is avoided.

Option by option

  • A. Prolonged psychotherapy alone

    Psychotherapy alone does not clear impaction.

  • B. Surgical colectomy

    Surgery is not indicated for functional constipation.

  • C. Disimpaction and laxatives with scheduled toilet sitting (correct)

    Correct. Treating the constipation resolves the overflow.

  • D. Daily antipsychotic

    Antipsychotics have no role in encopresis.

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, Disimpaction and laxatives with scheduled toilet sitting. Retentive encopresis with overflow incontinence is treated by clearing the impaction, giving laxatives to keep stools soft, and routine toilet sitting with positive reinforcement.

Why is "Prolonged psychotherapy alone" not the answer?

Psychotherapy alone does not clear impaction.

Why is "Surgical colectomy" not the answer?

Surgery is not indicated for functional constipation.

Why is "Daily antipsychotic" not the answer?

Antipsychotics have no role in encopresis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Child and adolescent psychiatry: treatment of encopresis in Psychiatry. Punishment is avoided.

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: treatment of encopresis?

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.