Substance use: alcohol withdrawal timeline: 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 · Substance use: alcohol withdrawal timeline

Sample item

A man with chronic alcohol dependence stops drinking. Which sequence of events is typical?

ASeizures at 7 days, tremors at 14 daysBNo withdrawal if the patient is well nourishedCTremors at 6 to 12 hours, seizures at 12 to 48 hours, delirium tremens at 48 to 96 hoursDDelirium tremens first, then seizures, then tremors

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Tremors at 6 to 12 hours, seizures at 12 to 48 hours, delirium tremens at 48 to 96 hours

Minor withdrawal (tremor, sweating, anxiety) appears within 6 to 12 hours, withdrawal seizures peak at 12 to 48 hours, and delirium tremens usually develops at 48 to 96 hours. Hallucinosis can occur in between.

Option by option

A. Seizures at 7 days, tremors at 14 days
Seizures and tremors do not appear that late.
B. No withdrawal if the patient is well nourished
Nutrition does not prevent withdrawal.
C. Tremors at 6 to 12 hours, seizures at 12 to 48 hours, delirium tremens at 48 to 96 hours (correct)
Correct. This is the typical time course.
D. Delirium tremens first, then seizures, then tremors
The order is reversed here.

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 C, Tremors at 6 to 12 hours, seizures at 12 to 48 hours, delirium tremens at 48 to 96 hours. Minor withdrawal (tremor, sweating, anxiety) appears within 6 to 12 hours, withdrawal seizures peak at 12 to 48 hours, and delirium tremens usually develops at 48 to 96 hours.

Why is "Seizures at 7 days, tremors at 14 days" not the answer?

Seizures and tremors do not appear that late.

Why is "No withdrawal if the patient is well nourished" not the answer?

Nutrition does not prevent withdrawal.

Why is "Delirium tremens first, then seizures, then tremors" not the answer?

The order is reversed here.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: alcohol withdrawal timeline in Psychiatry. Hallucinosis can occur in between.

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 Substance use: alcohol withdrawal timeline?

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.