Antipsychotics: pimavanserin: 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 · Antipsychotics: pimavanserin

Sample item

Parkinson disease psychosis (hallucinations and delusions) can be treated with a drug that is a selective 5-HT2A inverse agonist without D2 blockade. It is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Pimavanserin

Pimavanserin treats hallucinations and delusions of Parkinson disease psychosis without worsening motor symptoms, because it has no appreciable dopamine receptor affinity. Quetiapine and clozapine are other low-D2 options.

Option by option

  • A. Olanzapine

    Olanzapine can worsen motor symptoms in Parkinson disease.

  • B. Pimavanserin (correct)

    Correct. Pimavanserin is a 5-HT2A inverse agonist without D2 action.

  • C. Risperidone

    Risperidone has strong D2 blockade and worsens motor symptoms.

  • D. Haloperidol

    Haloperidol markedly worsens parkinsonism.

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, Pimavanserin. Pimavanserin treats hallucinations and delusions of Parkinson disease psychosis without worsening motor symptoms, because it has no appreciable dopamine receptor affinity.

Why is "Olanzapine" not the answer?

Olanzapine can worsen motor symptoms in Parkinson disease.

Why is "Risperidone" not the answer?

Risperidone has strong D2 blockade and worsens motor symptoms.

Why is "Haloperidol" not the answer?

Haloperidol markedly worsens parkinsonism.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antipsychotics: pimavanserin in Psychiatry. Quetiapine and clozapine are other low-D2 options.

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 Antipsychotics: pimavanserin?

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.