Psychopharmacology: Z-drugs: 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: Z-drugs

Sample item

An elderly man takes zolpidem for insomnia, and his wife reports that he once cooked and ate a meal during the night with no memory of it. This reaction is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. A complex sleep behaviour associated with Z-drugs

Zolpidem, zopiclone and zaleplon bind selectively to the BZ1 (omega-1) site, and can cause complex sleep behaviours such as sleep-eating or sleep-driving with amnesia. Regulators advise stopping the drug if this occurs.

Option by option

  • A. REM sleep behaviour disorder due to alpha-synuclein

    RBD involves dream enactment, and the clear drug association points elsewhere.

  • B. Nocturnal seizure of frontal lobe origin by definition

    A seizure is not the likely explanation given the clear drug association.

  • C. A narcolepsy attack

    Narcolepsy presents with sleep attacks and cataplexy, not amnestic complex behaviour after a hypnotic.

  • D. A complex sleep behaviour associated with Z-drugs (correct)

    Correct. Complex sleep behaviours with amnesia are a recognised Z-drug effect.

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 D, A complex sleep behaviour associated with Z-drugs. Zolpidem, zopiclone and zaleplon bind selectively to the BZ1 (omega-1) site, and can cause complex sleep behaviours such as sleep-eating or sleep-driving with amnesia.

Why is "REM sleep behaviour disorder due to alpha-synuclein" not the answer?

RBD involves dream enactment, and the clear drug association points elsewhere.

Why is "Nocturnal seizure of frontal lobe origin by definition" not the answer?

A seizure is not the likely explanation given the clear drug association.

Why is "A narcolepsy attack" not the answer?

Narcolepsy presents with sleep attacks and cataplexy, not amnestic complex behaviour after a hypnotic.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychopharmacology: Z-drugs in Psychiatry. Regulators advise stopping the drug if this occurs.

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: Z-drugs?

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.