Child and adolescent psychiatry: social communication 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 · Child and adolescent psychiatry: social communication disorder

Sample item

A 7-year-old has fluent speech and a large vocabulary, but does not adapt his language to the listener, cannot follow the rules of conversation or understand jokes and inferences. He has no restricted interests, stereotypies or sensory oddities. What is the most appropriate DSM-5 diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Social (pragmatic) communication disorder

Social (pragmatic) communication disorder is a persistent difficulty with the social use of language in the absence of restricted, repetitive behaviours, which separates it from autism. Structural language is relatively intact.

Option by option

  • A. Expressive language disorder

    Expressive language disorder involves limited vocabulary and sentence structure, which he does not have.

  • B. Social (pragmatic) communication disorder (correct)

    Correct. Pragmatic difficulties without restricted or repetitive behaviours fit this diagnosis.

  • C. Autism spectrum disorder

    Autism requires restricted, repetitive behaviours or interests as well as social communication deficits.

  • D. Selective mutism

    Selective mutism means the child speaks in some settings but not in others, which is not the case.

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, Social (pragmatic) communication disorder. Social (pragmatic) communication disorder is a persistent difficulty with the social use of language in the absence of restricted, repetitive behaviours, which separates it from autism.

Why is "Expressive language disorder" not the answer?

Expressive language disorder involves limited vocabulary and sentence structure, which he does not have.

Why is "Autism spectrum disorder" not the answer?

Autism requires restricted, repetitive behaviours or interests as well as social communication deficits.

Why is "Selective mutism" not the answer?

Selective mutism means the child speaks in some settings but not in others, which is not the case.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Child and adolescent psychiatry: social communication disorder in Psychiatry. Structural language is relatively intact.

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 Child and adolescent psychiatry: social communication 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.