Anxiety disorders: social anxiety: 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 disorders: social anxiety

Sample item

A musician is terrified of public performance, with tachycardia and tremor, but is comfortable in other social settings. For occasional use before performances, the most suitable drug is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Propranolol

Performance-only social anxiety is helped by beta blockers such as propranolol taken before the event, blocking peripheral autonomic symptoms. Generalised social anxiety is treated with SSRIs and CBT.

Option by option

  • A. Imipramine

    Tricyclics are not used for acute performance anxiety.

  • B. Lithium

    Lithium has no role.

  • C. Propranolol (correct)

    Correct. A beta blocker controls tremor and tachycardia of performance anxiety.

  • D. Haloperidol

    Antipsychotics are not indicated.

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, Propranolol. Performance-only social anxiety is helped by beta blockers such as propranolol taken before the event, blocking peripheral autonomic symptoms.

Why is "Imipramine" not the answer?

Tricyclics are not used for acute performance anxiety.

Why is "Lithium" not the answer?

Lithium has no role.

Why is "Haloperidol" not the answer?

Antipsychotics are not indicated.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Anxiety disorders: social anxiety in Psychiatry. Generalised social anxiety is treated with SSRIs and CBT.

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 disorders: social anxiety?

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.