Mood disorders: cyclothymia: 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 · Mood disorders: cyclothymia

Sample item

For a diagnosis of cyclothymic disorder in an adult, numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms must be present for at least:

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. 2 years

Cyclothymia requires 2 years (1 year in children and adolescents) of fluctuating subthreshold hypomanic and depressive symptoms, present at least half the time. Full episodes of mania or major depression must never have been met.

Option by option

  • A. 2 years (correct)

    Correct. Two years in adults.

  • B. 5 years

    Five years is not required.

  • C. 6 months

    Six months is too short.

  • D. 1 year

    One year applies to children and adolescents.

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, 2 years. Cyclothymia requires 2 years (1 year in children and adolescents) of fluctuating subthreshold hypomanic and depressive symptoms, present at least half the time.

Why is "5 years" not the answer?

Five years is not required.

Why is "6 months" not the answer?

Six months is too short.

Why is "1 year" not the answer?

One year applies to children and adolescents.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Mood disorders: cyclothymia in Psychiatry. Full episodes of mania or major depression must never have been met.

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 Mood disorders: cyclothymia?

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.