Anxiety and related disorders: suffocation false alarm theory: 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 · Anxiety and related disorders: suffocation false alarm theory

Sample item

A patient with panic disorder has a panic attack when she breathes air with raised carbon dioxide in a laboratory, while controls feel only mild discomfort. Which theory best explains this observation?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Hypersensitive brainstem suffocation alarm

Klein's suffocation false alarm theory proposes that panic patients have an oversensitive suffocation monitor, so rising CO2 sets off panic. Lactate infusion and hyperventilation can also trigger attacks in susceptible people.

Option by option

  • A. Classical conditioning of a neutral cue

    Classical conditioning explains phobic cues and does not explain a physiological chemical trigger.

  • B. Learned helplessness

    Learned helplessness is a model of depression after inescapable stress.

  • C. Hypersensitive brainstem suffocation alarm (correct)

    Correct. A hypersensitive alarm to rising CO2 explains the response in panic.

  • D. Social learning from parental modelling

    Social learning explains behaviour acquired by watching others, which is unrelated to a CO2 challenge.

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, Hypersensitive brainstem suffocation alarm. Klein's suffocation false alarm theory proposes that panic patients have an oversensitive suffocation monitor, so rising CO2 sets off panic.

Why is "Classical conditioning of a neutral cue" not the answer?

Classical conditioning explains phobic cues and does not explain a physiological chemical trigger.

Why is "Learned helplessness" not the answer?

Learned helplessness is a model of depression after inescapable stress.

Why is "Social learning from parental modelling" not the answer?

Social learning explains behaviour acquired by watching others, which is unrelated to a CO2 challenge.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Anxiety and related disorders: suffocation false alarm theory in Psychiatry. Lactate infusion and hyperventilation can also trigger attacks in susceptible people.

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 Anxiety and related disorders: suffocation false alarm theory?

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.