Q.1 Which of the following best defines Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD)?
Physical symptoms caused by a confirmed medical illness
Excessive focus on physical symptoms causing distress and impairment
Deliberate faking of symptoms for personal gain
Complete absence of any physical symptoms
Explanation - SSD is characterized by excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to physical symptoms that may or may not have a medical explanation, leading to significant distress or impairment.
Correct answer is: Excessive focus on physical symptoms causing distress and impairment
Q.2 In Illness Anxiety Disorder, the primary feature is:
Persistent worry about having or acquiring a serious illness
Multiple unexplained physical complaints
Sudden neurological symptoms like blindness
Symptoms intentionally produced for external incentives
Explanation - Illness Anxiety Disorder is defined by preoccupation with having or developing a serious illness despite minimal or no somatic symptoms.
Correct answer is: Persistent worry about having or acquiring a serious illness
Q.3 Conversion Disorder is also referred to as:
Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder
Somatization Disorder
Hypochondriasis
Factitious Disorder
Explanation - Conversion Disorder is now termed Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder, characterized by neurological symptoms without medical explanation.
Correct answer is: Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder
Q.4 Which of the following differentiates Factitious Disorder from Malingering?
Presence of physical symptoms
Lack of identifiable external incentives
Symptoms are always neurological
Occurs only in hospital settings
Explanation - In Factitious Disorder, symptoms are intentionally produced but without obvious external incentives, unlike malingering where the motivation is external gain.
Correct answer is: Lack of identifiable external incentives
Q.5 A patient presents with sudden paralysis of the arm but medical evaluation shows no neurological basis. The most likely diagnosis is:
Illness Anxiety Disorder
Conversion Disorder
Factitious Disorder
Somatic Symptom Disorder
Explanation - Conversion Disorder involves neurological-like symptoms that cannot be explained by medical findings, such as paralysis without organic cause.
Correct answer is: Conversion Disorder
Q.6 Which brain region is often implicated in somatic symptom and related disorders?
Amygdala
Occipital cortex
Hippocampus
Cerebellum
Explanation - The amygdala, involved in emotional processing, has been shown to play a role in heightened somatic symptom perception and anxiety.
Correct answer is: Amygdala
Q.7 Which of the following is NOT part of the diagnostic criteria for Somatic Symptom Disorder?
Excessive time devoted to health concerns
Persistent high levels of anxiety about health
Physical symptoms lasting at least 6 months
Deliberate production of symptoms
Explanation - Deliberate production of symptoms is characteristic of Factitious Disorder, not Somatic Symptom Disorder.
Correct answer is: Deliberate production of symptoms
Q.8 What is the most effective initial management for Illness Anxiety Disorder?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Prolonged hospitalization
Surgery
Explanation - CBT is considered first-line for Illness Anxiety Disorder as it addresses maladaptive thoughts and health-related anxieties.
Correct answer is: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Q.9 Which of the following medications may be helpful in treating Somatic Symptom Disorder?
SSRIs
Antipsychotics
Benzodiazepines
Lithium
Explanation - SSRIs can reduce comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with SSD, improving overall functioning.
Correct answer is: SSRIs
Q.10 A patient feigns seizures to gain attention from medical staff. This is most consistent with:
Malingering
Somatic Symptom Disorder
Factitious Disorder
Conversion Disorder
Explanation - Factitious Disorder involves intentional production of symptoms to assume the sick role, often without external incentives.
Correct answer is: Factitious Disorder
Q.11 Malingering is typically motivated by:
Unconscious psychological conflict
Desire to assume the sick role
External incentives like financial gain
Underlying neurological disease
Explanation - Malingering involves intentional production of symptoms for clear external rewards, such as avoiding work or gaining compensation.
Correct answer is: External incentives like financial gain
Q.12 Which historical term was replaced by Somatic Symptom Disorder in DSM-5?
Neurasthenia
Somatization Disorder
Hysteria
Hypochondriasis
Explanation - DSM-5 eliminated Somatization Disorder and replaced it with Somatic Symptom Disorder, broadening diagnostic criteria.
Correct answer is: Somatization Disorder
Q.13 Patients with Illness Anxiety Disorder usually present with:
Multiple disabling physical symptoms
Minimal or no somatic symptoms
Neurological deficits only
Intentional falsification of illness
Explanation - Illness Anxiety Disorder is primarily characterized by fear of serious illness despite few or no physical symptoms.
Correct answer is: Minimal or no somatic symptoms
Q.14 Which therapeutic approach emphasizes the doctor-patient relationship and avoiding unnecessary medical interventions?
Psychodynamic therapy
Supportive care
Exposure therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy
Explanation - Supportive care, including reassurance and consistent follow-up, is essential to avoid reinforcing maladaptive illness behaviors.
Correct answer is: Supportive care
Q.15 The hallmark feature of Conversion Disorder is:
Unconscious production of neurological symptoms
Deliberate faking of seizures
Excessive preoccupation with mild symptoms
Chronic pain without medical basis
Explanation - Conversion Disorder involves unconscious expression of psychological conflict through neurological-like symptoms.
Correct answer is: Unconscious production of neurological symptoms
Q.16 Factitious Disorder imposed on another is also known as:
Munchausen Syndrome
Malingering
Somatization Disorder
Hypochondriasis
Explanation - Factitious Disorder imposed on another, historically called Munchausen by proxy, involves inducing illness in another person for psychological gain.
Correct answer is: Munchausen Syndrome
Q.17 Which gender is more commonly affected by Somatic Symptom Disorder?
Males
Females
Both equally
Children only
Explanation - Somatic Symptom Disorder is more common in females, often presenting in adolescence or early adulthood.
Correct answer is: Females
Q.18 What role does stress play in somatic symptom disorders?
No role
Triggers and exacerbates symptoms
Completely explains symptoms
Occurs only in malingering
Explanation - Stress is a significant factor that can trigger or worsen somatic symptoms through psychophysiological pathways.
Correct answer is: Triggers and exacerbates symptoms
Q.19 Patients with somatic symptom disorder often:
Have high medical utilization
Avoid doctors
Refuse all medications
Recover quickly
Explanation - SSD patients frequently seek repeated medical evaluations and interventions despite reassurance.
Correct answer is: Have high medical utilization
Q.20 Which comorbidity is most frequently associated with somatic symptom and related disorders?
Schizophrenia
Major depressive disorder
Bipolar disorder
ADHD
Explanation - Depression and anxiety disorders commonly co-occur with somatic symptom disorders, compounding distress.
Correct answer is: Major depressive disorder
Q.21 Somatic Symptom Disorder differs from Generalized Anxiety Disorder by:
Involving health-related focus
Being less impairing
Responding only to medication
Never involving physical symptoms
Explanation - SSD specifically centers on physical symptoms and health concerns, unlike generalized anxiety which is broader.
Correct answer is: Involving health-related focus
Q.22 Which statement about Malingering is true?
It is considered a psychiatric disorder
It requires hospitalization
It is not a psychiatric disorder but a behavior
It always involves neurological symptoms
Explanation - Malingering is not classified as a psychiatric illness in DSM-5; it is considered intentional behavior for external incentives.
Correct answer is: It is not a psychiatric disorder but a behavior
Q.23 Which of the following features is more common in Conversion Disorder?
Symptoms follow stressful events
Symptoms are intentionally produced
External rewards are always present
Symptoms resolve within hours
Explanation - Conversion Disorder symptoms often appear after psychological stress or conflict, reflecting unconscious processes.
Correct answer is: Symptoms follow stressful events
Q.24 The DSM-5 classifies Somatic Symptom Disorder under which category?
Mood Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
Psychotic Disorders
Explanation - DSM-5 has a dedicated category: Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders, including SSD, Illness Anxiety, and Conversion Disorder.
Correct answer is: Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
Q.25 What is the most appropriate approach to a patient repeatedly presenting with unexplained physical symptoms?
Provide repeated diagnostic testing
Dismiss their concerns
Establish regular follow-ups with reassurance
Refer only to surgery
Explanation - Consistent follow-up helps reduce unnecessary interventions while maintaining a supportive therapeutic relationship.
Correct answer is: Establish regular follow-ups with reassurance