Perinatal psychiatry: postpartum psychosis: 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 · Perinatal psychiatry: postpartum psychosis

Sample item

A woman 10 days after her first delivery becomes insomniac and perplexed, with delusions about her baby and elevated mood. The most appropriate step is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Urgent psychiatric admission, preferably in a mother-baby unit if available

Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency, usually of rapid onset in the first 2 weeks, strongly linked with bipolar disorder, and carries a risk of suicide and infanticide. Treatment is with antipsychotics, lithium or ECT in hospital, with close supervision of the mother and infant.

Option by option

  • A. Discharge with sleeping tablets

    Sleeping tablets alone do not treat psychosis.

  • B. Reassurance at home

    Reassurance at home is unsafe.

  • C. Urgent psychiatric admission, preferably in a mother-baby unit if available (correct)

    Correct. This is an emergency needing admission.

  • D. Counselling only

    Counselling alone is inadequate.

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 C, Urgent psychiatric admission, preferably in a mother-baby unit if available. Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency, usually of rapid onset in the first 2 weeks, strongly linked with bipolar disorder, and carries a risk of suicide and infanticide.

Why is "Discharge with sleeping tablets" not the answer?

Sleeping tablets alone do not treat psychosis.

Why is "Reassurance at home" not the answer?

Reassurance at home is unsafe.

Why is "Counselling only" not the answer?

Counselling alone is inadequate.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Perinatal psychiatry: postpartum psychosis in Psychiatry. Treatment is with antipsychotics, lithium or ECT in hospital, with close supervision of the mother and infant.

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 Perinatal psychiatry: postpartum psychosis?

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.