Anxiety and related disorders: negative cognitions in PTSD: 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 · Anxiety and related disorders: negative cognitions in PTSD

Sample item

A soldier who survived an ambush in which his comrades died repeatedly says, 'It should have been me. I could have saved them.' Under which DSM-5 symptom cluster of PTSD does this fall?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Negative alterations in cognitions and mood

Persistent distorted blame of oneself or others about the event, along with guilt, detachment and negative beliefs, belongs to the negative alterations in cognition and mood cluster. The other clusters are intrusion, avoidance, and arousal and reactivity.

Option by option

  • A. Intrusion symptoms

    Intrusion refers to flashbacks, nightmares and distress at reminders.

  • B. Negative alterations in cognitions and mood (correct)

    Correct. Distorted self-blame and persistent guilt belong in this cluster.

  • C. Avoidance

    Avoidance means avoiding thoughts, places or people that recall the trauma.

  • D. Alterations in arousal and reactivity

    Arousal symptoms include hypervigilance, startle and irritability.

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 B, Negative alterations in cognitions and mood. Persistent distorted blame of oneself or others about the event, along with guilt, detachment and negative beliefs, belongs to the negative alterations in cognition and mood cluster.

Why is "Intrusion symptoms" not the answer?

Intrusion refers to flashbacks, nightmares and distress at reminders.

Why is "Avoidance" not the answer?

Avoidance means avoiding thoughts, places or people that recall the trauma.

Why is "Alterations in arousal and reactivity" not the answer?

Arousal symptoms include hypervigilance, startle and irritability.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Anxiety and related disorders: negative cognitions in PTSD in Psychiatry. The other clusters are intrusion, avoidance, and arousal and reactivity.

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 Anxiety and related disorders: negative cognitions in PTSD?

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.