Anxiety disorders: specific phobia: 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: specific phobia

Sample item

The most effective treatment for a specific phobia of lifts is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Graded exposure therapy

Behavioural therapy with graded exposure (systematic desensitisation) or flooding is the treatment of choice for specific phobias. Drugs have only a limited role.

Option by option

  • A. Psychoanalysis

    Psychoanalysis is not effective for specific phobia.

  • B. Graded exposure therapy (correct)

    Correct. Exposure-based behaviour therapy is first-line.

  • C. Long-term benzodiazepines

    Chronic benzodiazepines do not cure and risk dependence.

  • D. Antipsychotics

    Antipsychotics have no role.

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, Graded exposure therapy. Behavioural therapy with graded exposure (systematic desensitisation) or flooding is the treatment of choice for specific phobias.

Why is "Psychoanalysis" not the answer?

Psychoanalysis is not effective for specific phobia.

Why is "Long-term benzodiazepines" not the answer?

Chronic benzodiazepines do not cure and risk dependence.

Why is "Antipsychotics" not the answer?

Antipsychotics have no role.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Anxiety disorders: specific phobia in Psychiatry. Drugs have only a limited role.

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: specific phobia?

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.