Substance use: cannabis withdrawal: 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 · Substance use: cannabis withdrawal

Sample item

A 25-year-old man who smoked cannabis daily for three years stops abruptly. Over the next week he is irritable, sleeps poorly, has vivid dreams, reduced appetite and restlessness. Which statement is correct?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. This is cannabis withdrawal and is usually mild and self-limiting

Cannabis withdrawal begins within a few days of stopping and peaks in the first week, with irritability, anxiety, insomnia, reduced appetite and restlessness. It is typically managed with support and symptomatic care rather than specific drugs.

Option by option

  • A. This indicates a primary mood disorder requiring lithium

    The timing and context point to withdrawal, and not bipolar disorder.

  • B. Cannabis has no withdrawal syndrome

    A recognised withdrawal syndrome is present in DSM-5.

  • C. This is life-threatening and needs benzodiazepine detoxification

    Cannabis withdrawal is not medically dangerous in the way alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal can be.

  • D. This is cannabis withdrawal and is usually mild and self-limiting (correct)

    Correct. A time-limited syndrome of irritability, insomnia and reduced appetite follows heavy use.

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, This is cannabis withdrawal and is usually mild and self-limiting. Cannabis withdrawal begins within a few days of stopping and peaks in the first week, with irritability, anxiety, insomnia, reduced appetite and restlessness.

Why is "This indicates a primary mood disorder requiring lithium" not the answer?

The timing and context point to withdrawal, and not bipolar disorder.

Why is "Cannabis has no withdrawal syndrome" not the answer?

A recognised withdrawal syndrome is present in DSM-5.

Why is "This is life-threatening and needs benzodiazepine detoxification" not the answer?

Cannabis withdrawal is not medically dangerous in the way alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal can be.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: cannabis withdrawal in Psychiatry. It is typically managed with support and symptomatic care rather than specific drugs.

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 Substance use: cannabis withdrawal?

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.