OCD: pharmacotherapy: 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 · OCD: pharmacotherapy

Sample item

Which statement about drug treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder is true?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. SSRIs at higher doses and a longer trial are usually needed

OCD usually requires higher SSRI doses than depression and 8 to 12 weeks to judge response. Clomipramine is an effective alternative, and low-dose antipsychotics may augment response.

Option by option

  • A. Response occurs within 2 days

    The response is slow, taking weeks.

  • B. SSRIs at higher doses and a longer trial are usually needed (correct)

    Correct. Higher doses and prolonged trials are needed.

  • C. Lithium monotherapy is first-line

    Lithium monotherapy is not recommended.

  • D. Benzodiazepines are first-line

    Benzodiazepines do not treat OCD.

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, SSRIs at higher doses and a longer trial are usually needed. OCD usually requires higher SSRI doses than depression and 8 to 12 weeks to judge response.

Why is "Response occurs within 2 days" not the answer?

The response is slow, taking weeks.

Why is "Lithium monotherapy is first-line" not the answer?

Lithium monotherapy is not recommended.

Why is "Benzodiazepines are first-line" not the answer?

Benzodiazepines do not treat OCD.

What concept does this question test?

It tests OCD: pharmacotherapy in Psychiatry. Clomipramine is an effective alternative, and low-dose antipsychotics may augment response.

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 OCD: pharmacotherapy?

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.