Psychopharmacology: benzodiazepines and respiratory disease: 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 · Psychopharmacology: benzodiazepines and respiratory disease

Sample item

A 70-year-old woman with severe COPD and carbon dioxide retention has generalised anxiety disorder. Which drug is the most appropriate for her anxiety?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Buspirone

Benzodiazepines depress respiratory drive and can precipitate hypercapnic failure in severe COPD, while buspirone does not cause respiratory depression. An SSRI is also an option for long-term treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Alprazolam

    Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine that can worsen CO2 retention.

  • B. Buspirone (correct)

    Correct. Buspirone is non-sedating and has no respiratory depressant effect.

  • C. Clonazepam

    Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine with the same respiratory risk.

  • D. Diazepam

    Diazepam is long-acting and accumulates in older people, with respiratory depression.

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 B, Buspirone. Benzodiazepines depress respiratory drive and can precipitate hypercapnic failure in severe COPD, while buspirone does not cause respiratory depression.

Why is "Alprazolam" not the answer?

Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine that can worsen CO2 retention.

Why is "Clonazepam" not the answer?

Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine with the same respiratory risk.

Why is "Diazepam" not the answer?

Diazepam is long-acting and accumulates in older people, with respiratory depression.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychopharmacology: benzodiazepines and respiratory disease in Psychiatry. An SSRI is also an option for long-term treatment.

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 Psychopharmacology: benzodiazepines and respiratory disease?

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.