Bipolar disorder: antidepressant risk: 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 · Bipolar disorder: antidepressant risk

Sample item

Why should antidepressant monotherapy be avoided in bipolar depression?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. It may precipitate mania or rapid cycling

Antidepressants alone can induce a switch into mania or hypomania, or increase cycle frequency, in bipolar disorder. They should be given together with a mood stabiliser if used at all.

Option by option

  • A. It may precipitate mania or rapid cycling (correct)

    Correct. Risk of mood switch and rapid cycling.

  • B. It lowers lithium levels

    Antidepressants do not lower lithium levels.

  • C. It is ineffective in all mood disorders

    They are effective in unipolar depression.

  • D. It causes severe hypotension in all patients

    Hypotension is not the reason and is not universal.

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, It may precipitate mania or rapid cycling. Antidepressants alone can induce a switch into mania or hypomania, or increase cycle frequency, in bipolar disorder.

Why is "It lowers lithium levels" not the answer?

Antidepressants do not lower lithium levels.

Why is "It is ineffective in all mood disorders" not the answer?

They are effective in unipolar depression.

Why is "It causes severe hypotension in all patients" not the answer?

Hypotension is not the reason and is not universal.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bipolar disorder: antidepressant risk in Psychiatry. They should be given together with a mood stabiliser if used at all.

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 Bipolar disorder: antidepressant risk?

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.