Eating and sleep disorders: rumination 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.

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Psychiatry · Eating and sleep disorders: rumination disorder

Sample item

An 8-month-old infant repeatedly brings up milk soon after feeds, chews and swallows it again, and is losing weight. There is no retching, distress or fever, and he seems to enjoy it. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Rumination disorder

Rumination disorder is repeated regurgitation and re-chewing of food for over a month, without a medical cause, and may follow neglect or understimulation. Reflux causes distress and arching, and does not involve deliberate re-chewing.

Option by option

  • A. Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder

    Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder is refusal of food for sensory or fear reasons, not regurgitation.

  • B. Pica

    Pica is persistent eating of non-nutritive substances.

  • C. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

    Reflux regurgitation is passive, with discomfort, and no re-chewing.

  • D. Rumination disorder (correct)

    Correct. Effortless regurgitation with re-chewing is rumination.

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 D, Rumination disorder. Rumination disorder is repeated regurgitation and re-chewing of food for over a month, without a medical cause, and may follow neglect or understimulation.

Why is "Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder" not the answer?

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder is refusal of food for sensory or fear reasons, not regurgitation.

Why is "Pica" not the answer?

Pica is persistent eating of non-nutritive substances.

Why is "Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease" not the answer?

Reflux regurgitation is passive, with discomfort, and no re-chewing.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Eating and sleep disorders: rumination disorder in Psychiatry. Reflux causes distress and arching, and does not involve deliberate re-chewing.

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 Eating and sleep disorders: rumination 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.