Substance use: MDMA: 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: MDMA

Sample item

A teenager at a rave develops hyperthermia, agitation, muscle rigidity and hyponatraemia after taking ecstasy. The drug primarily causes the release of:

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Serotonin

MDMA is a ring-substituted amphetamine causing massive serotonin release and reuptake inhibition, with empathogenic effects and a serotonin-syndrome-like toxicity. Hyponatraemia can arise from excess water intake plus SIADH-like effect.

Option by option

  • A. Serotonin (correct)

    Correct. MDMA releases serotonin.

  • B. Acetylcholine

    Acetylcholine is not the main transmitter involved.

  • C. GABA

    GABA is not primarily released.

  • D. Opioid peptides

    Opioid peptide release is not the main action.

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 A, Serotonin. MDMA is a ring-substituted amphetamine causing massive serotonin release and reuptake inhibition, with empathogenic effects and a serotonin-syndrome-like toxicity.

Why is "Acetylcholine" not the answer?

Acetylcholine is not the main transmitter involved.

Why is "GABA" not the answer?

GABA is not primarily released.

Why is "Opioid peptides" not the answer?

Opioid peptide release is not the main action.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: MDMA in Psychiatry. Hyponatraemia can arise from excess water intake plus SIADH-like effect.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: MDMA?

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.