Substance use: ICD-10 dependence: 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: ICD-10 dependence

Sample item

According to ICD-10, a diagnosis of dependence syndrome requires at least how many of the six features at some time during the previous year?

A3B5C1D2

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. 3

ICD-10 requires three or more of: strong desire or compulsion to use, impaired control, withdrawal state, tolerance, neglect of other interests, and persistent use despite harm. DSM-5 combines abuse and dependence into a single substance use disorder with 11 criteria.

Option by option

A. 3 (correct)
Correct. Three or more criteria in the past year.
B. 5
Five is above the threshold.
C. 1
One feature is insufficient.
D. 2
Two features may suggest harmful use but not 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 A, 3. ICD-10 requires three or more of: strong desire or compulsion to use, impaired control, withdrawal state, tolerance, neglect of other interests, and persistent use despite harm.

Why is "5" not the answer?

Five is above the threshold.

Why is "1" not the answer?

One feature is insufficient.

Why is "2" not the answer?

Two features may suggest harmful use but not dependence.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: ICD-10 dependence in Psychiatry. DSM-5 combines abuse and dependence into a single substance use disorder with 11 criteria.

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: ICD-10 dependence?

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.