Depressive disorders: disruptive mood dysregulation: 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 · Depressive disorders: disruptive mood dysregulation

Sample item

An 8-year-old has severe temper outbursts three or more times a week, grossly out of proportion to the trigger, with persistently irritable mood between outbursts for over a year. The DSM-5 diagnosis is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder

DMDD was added to DSM-5 depressive disorders to avoid over-diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children with chronic irritability. It requires onset before age 10, and diagnosis between ages 6 and 18.

Option by option

  • A. Oppositional defiant disorder

    ODD does not have the severe outbursts and persistent irritable mood of DMDD (and DMDD supersedes ODD if both are met).

  • B. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (correct)

    Correct. Chronic irritability with severe outbursts in a child is DMDD.

  • C. Paediatric bipolar I disorder

    Bipolar I needs discrete manic episodes.

  • D. Conduct disorder

    Conduct disorder is violation of rights of others and rules.

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, Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. DMDD was added to DSM-5 depressive disorders to avoid over-diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children with chronic irritability.

Why is "Oppositional defiant disorder" not the answer?

ODD does not have the severe outbursts and persistent irritable mood of DMDD (and DMDD supersedes ODD if both are met).

Why is "Paediatric bipolar I disorder" not the answer?

Bipolar I needs discrete manic episodes.

Why is "Conduct disorder" not the answer?

Conduct disorder is violation of rights of others and rules.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Depressive disorders: disruptive mood dysregulation in Psychiatry. It requires onset before age 10, and diagnosis between ages 6 and 18.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Depressive disorders: disruptive mood dysregulation?

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.