Child and adolescent psychiatry: management of school refusal: 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: management of school refusal

Sample item

A 9-year-old with anxiety refuses to go to school and has morning stomach aches with normal examination. What is the best approach?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Early graded return to school with CBT and parental support

Avoidance maintains anxiety, so prompt return to school with a graded plan, CBT and parent guidance is the main treatment. Prolonged absence worsens outcomes.

Option by option

  • A. An antipsychotic

    Antipsychotics are not indicated.

  • B. Daily benzodiazepine

    Benzodiazepines are not recommended for anxiety in children.

  • C. Early graded return to school with CBT and parental support (correct)

    Correct. Early return breaks the avoidance cycle.

  • D. Home schooling until the anxiety resolves

    Prolonged absence reinforces avoidance.

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 graded return to school with CBT and parental support. Avoidance maintains anxiety, so prompt return to school with a graded plan, CBT and parent guidance is the main treatment.

Why is "An antipsychotic" not the answer?

Antipsychotics are not indicated.

Why is "Daily benzodiazepine" not the answer?

Benzodiazepines are not recommended for anxiety in children.

Why is "Home schooling until the anxiety resolves" not the answer?

Prolonged absence reinforces avoidance.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Child and adolescent psychiatry: management of school refusal in Psychiatry. Prolonged absence worsens outcomes.

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: management of school refusal?

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.