Psychopharmacology: buspirone: 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 · Psychopharmacology: buspirone

Sample item

Which anxiolytic acts as a 5-HT1A partial agonist, lacks sedation and dependence potential, but takes 1 to 2 weeks to work?

AAlprazolamBZolpidemCPhenobarbitoneDBuspirone

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Buspirone

Buspirone is an azapirone used for generalised anxiety disorder, with no muscle relaxant, anticonvulsant or hypnotic action and no abuse potential. It is not useful for acute panic or benzodiazepine withdrawal.

Option by option

A. Alprazolam
Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine acting at once and causing dependence.
B. Zolpidem
Zolpidem is a hypnotic acting at the benzodiazepine site.
C. Phenobarbitone
Phenobarbitone is a sedative-anticonvulsant with dependence risk.
D. Buspirone (correct)
Correct. Buspirone is a 5-HT1A partial agonist without dependence.

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.

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, Buspirone. Buspirone is an azapirone used for generalised anxiety disorder, with no muscle relaxant, anticonvulsant or hypnotic action and no abuse potential.

Why is "Alprazolam" not the answer?

Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine acting at once and causing dependence.

Why is "Zolpidem" not the answer?

Zolpidem is a hypnotic acting at the benzodiazepine site.

Why is "Phenobarbitone" not the answer?

Phenobarbitone is a sedative-anticonvulsant with dependence risk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychopharmacology: buspirone in Psychiatry. It is not useful for acute panic or benzodiazepine withdrawal.

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 Psychopharmacology: buspirone?

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.