Substance use: hallucinogens: 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.

Try it

Psychiatry · Substance use: hallucinogens

Sample item

A young man at a party experiences vivid visual hallucinations, synaesthesia (hearing colours) and a distorted body image with preserved orientation. The probable drug is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. LSD

LSD is a 5-HT2A agonist that causes perceptual distortions, synaesthesia, depersonalisation and sympathetic arousal. Flashbacks, called hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, may recur after the drug has cleared.

Option by option

  • A. Heroin

    Heroin causes sedation and miosis.

  • B. LSD (correct)

    Correct. LSD produces these perceptual effects.

  • C. Nicotine

    Nicotine is a stimulant without hallucinations.

  • D. Alcohol

    Alcohol intoxication causes disinhibition and incoordination.

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.

More Psychiatry questions

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is B, LSD. LSD is a 5-HT2A agonist that causes perceptual distortions, synaesthesia, depersonalisation and sympathetic arousal.

Why is "Heroin" not the answer?

Heroin causes sedation and miosis.

Why is "Nicotine" not the answer?

Nicotine is a stimulant without hallucinations.

Why is "Alcohol" not the answer?

Alcohol intoxication causes disinhibition and incoordination.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: hallucinogens in Psychiatry. Flashbacks, called hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, may recur after the drug has cleared.

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: hallucinogens?

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.