Substance use: delirium tremens: 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: delirium tremens

Sample item

On day 3 after admission for a femur fracture, a chronic drinker is disorientated, sees insects crawling on the wall, and has tachycardia, fever and coarse tremor. The best initial drug treatment is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam or diazepam with thiamine

Delirium tremens is a medical emergency with a mortality that is significant if untreated. Benzodiazepines are first-line, thiamine is given to prevent Wernicke encephalopathy, and antipsychotics alone lower the seizure threshold.

Option by option

  • A. Disulfiram

    Disulfiram given during withdrawal could cause a toxic reaction and has no role.

  • B. Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam or diazepam with thiamine (correct)

    Correct. Benzodiazepines plus thiamine are the cornerstone.

  • C. Naltrexone

    Naltrexone is for relapse prevention.

  • D. Haloperidol alone

    Haloperidol alone lowers seizure threshold and does not prevent progression.

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 B, Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam or diazepam with thiamine. Delirium tremens is a medical emergency with a mortality that is significant if untreated.

Why is "Disulfiram" not the answer?

Disulfiram given during withdrawal could cause a toxic reaction and has no role.

Why is "Naltrexone" not the answer?

Naltrexone is for relapse prevention.

Why is "Haloperidol alone" not the answer?

Haloperidol alone lowers seizure threshold and does not prevent progression.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: delirium tremens in Psychiatry. Benzodiazepines are first-line, thiamine is given to prevent Wernicke encephalopathy, and antipsychotics alone lower the seizure threshold.

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: delirium tremens?

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.