Somatic disorders: somatic symptom disorder: 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 · Somatic disorders: somatic symptom disorder

Sample item

A 40-year-old man has multiple chronic bodily complaints, with excessive thoughts and anxiety about them and disproportionate time devoted to health concerns for over 6 months, despite normal investigations. The DSM-5 diagnosis is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Somatic symptom disorder

In DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder, one or more distressing somatic symptoms are accompanied by excessive thoughts, feelings or behaviours, and the state is persistent (typically over 6 months). The symptoms need not be medically unexplained.

Option by option

  • A. Malingering

    Malingering is conscious feigning for gain.

  • B. Illness anxiety disorder

    Illness anxiety disorder has minimal or no symptoms with preoccupation about disease.

  • C. Somatic symptom disorder (correct)

    Correct. Distressing symptoms with excessive health-related thinking define SSD.

  • D. Conversion disorder

    Conversion involves neurological deficits.

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 C, Somatic symptom disorder. In DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder, one or more distressing somatic symptoms are accompanied by excessive thoughts, feelings or behaviours, and the state is persistent (typically over 6 months).

Why is "Malingering" not the answer?

Malingering is conscious feigning for gain.

Why is "Illness anxiety disorder" not the answer?

Illness anxiety disorder has minimal or no symptoms with preoccupation about disease.

Why is "Conversion disorder" not the answer?

Conversion involves neurological deficits.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Somatic disorders: somatic symptom disorder in Psychiatry. The symptoms need not be medically unexplained.

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 Somatic disorders: somatic symptom disorder?

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.