OCD-related: body dysmorphic disorder: 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-related: body dysmorphic disorder

Sample item

A 22-year-old of normal appearance spends hours daily checking and camouflaging his nose, which he believes is grotesquely deformed. He seeks repeated cosmetic surgery. The most appropriate first-line medication is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. An SSRI

Body dysmorphic disorder is preoccupation with imagined or slight defects in appearance with repetitive behaviours, and responds to SSRIs and CBT. Cosmetic procedures seldom relieve the distress.

Option by option

  • A. An SSRI (correct)

    Correct. SSRIs and CBT are first-line.

  • B. Lithium

    Lithium is not indicated.

  • C. A benzodiazepine

    Benzodiazepines do not treat the core symptoms.

  • D. An antipsychotic alone

    Antipsychotics are not first-line unless there are delusional-intensity beliefs and even then SSRIs come first.

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 A, An SSRI. Body dysmorphic disorder is preoccupation with imagined or slight defects in appearance with repetitive behaviours, and responds to SSRIs and CBT.

Why is "Lithium" not the answer?

Lithium is not indicated.

Why is "A benzodiazepine" not the answer?

Benzodiazepines do not treat the core symptoms.

Why is "An antipsychotic alone" not the answer?

Antipsychotics are not first-line unless there are delusional-intensity beliefs and even then SSRIs come first.

What concept does this question test?

It tests OCD-related: body dysmorphic disorder in Psychiatry. Cosmetic procedures seldom relieve the distress.

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-related: body dysmorphic disorder?

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.