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USMLE STEP2 Exam
Step2 (Page 17 )

Updated On: 30-Jan-2026
Page 17 of 149
PDF with 738 Questions

An 11-year-old girl has become markedly withdrawn in the past 8 months and has complained of persisting abdominal pain and constipation, for which no organic cause has been found. Select the diagnosis with which it is most likely to be associated.

  1. childhood depression
  2. childhood schizophrenia
  3. conduct disorder
  4. ADHD
  5. infantile autism

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Infantile autism, called a pervasive developmental disorder in DSM-IV, typically is diagnosed when children do not demonstrate the acquisition of communication skills. Ability to form interpersonal relationships also is grossly impaired. Other behavioral manifestations of infantile autism include unusual repetitive mannerisms (e.g., spinning), marked anxiety during environmental changes, and high pain threshold. As to be expected, school performance is poor, though autistic children may display isolated areas (islands) of normal or superior intellectual functioning. Behavioral manipulation is useful in trying to contain the behavior of autistic children. Unlike infantile autism, childhood schizophrenia usually develops later in childhood and follows an intermittent course. Deterioration in social or school functioning is a characteristic presenting feature, along with hallucinations, delusions, and other manifestations of psychosis.
Phenothiazine drugs offer effective treatment. Symptoms and signs of depression in children are similar to those in adults. However, children may not be able to recognize depressed feelings. Persistence of puzzling physical problems in association with apathetic, withdrawn behavior is a common presentation.
The use of antidepressants is controversial; family and individual counseling often can be quite helpful.
ADHD once was called hyperactivity and minimal brain dysfunction. Characteristic signs include impulsivity, distractibility, inattention in school, and (usually but not universally) hyperactivity. A variety of pharmacologic agents, including imipramine, dextroamphetamine, and methylphenidate (Ritalin), have been recommended for treatment of ADHD.



A5-year-old boy is reported by his kindergarten teacher to be easily distracted, impulsive, in need of continual supervision, but not hyperactive
Select the diagnosis with which it is most likely to be associated.

  1. childhood depression
  2. childhood schizophrenia
  3. conduct disorder
  4. ADHD
  5. infantile autism

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Infantile autism, called a pervasive developmental disorder in DSM-IV, typically is diagnosed when children do not demonstrate the acquisition of communication skills. Ability to form interpersonal relationships also is grossly impaired. Other behavioral manifestations of infantile autism include unusual repetitive mannerisms (e.g., spinning), marked anxiety during environmental changes, and high pain threshold. As to be expected, school performance is poor, though autistic children may display isolated areas (islands) of normal or superior intellectual functioning. Behavioral manipulation is useful in trying to contain the behavior of autistic children. Unlike infantile autism, childhood schizophrenia usually develops later in childhood and follows an intermittent course. Deterioration in social or school functioning is a characteristic presenting feature, along with hallucinations, delusions, and other manifestations of psychosis.
Phenothiazine drugs offer effective treatment. Symptoms and signs of depression in children are similar to those in adults. However, children may not be able to recognize depressed feelings. Persistence of puzzling physical problems in association with apathetic, withdrawn behavior is a common presentation.
The use of antidepressants is controversial; family and individual counseling often can be quite helpful.
ADHD once was called hyperactivity and minimal brain dysfunction. Characteristic signs include impulsivity, distractibility, inattention in school, and (usually but not universally) hyperactivity. A variety of pharmacologic agents, including imipramine, dextroamphetamine, and methylphenidate (Ritalin), have been recommended for treatment of ADHD.



A 3-year-old boy spends hours rocking in a chair or spinning the blades of a toy windmill; his parents say he never cries when he falls.
Select the diagnosis with which it is most likely to be associated.

  1. childhood depression
  2. childhood schizophrenia
  3. conduct disorder
  4. ADHD
  5. infantile autism

Answer(s): E

Explanation:

Infantile autism, called a pervasive developmental disorder in DSM-IV, typically is diagnosed when children do not demonstrate the acquisition of communication skills. Ability to form interpersonal relationships also is grossly impaired. Other behavioral manifestations of infantile autism include unusual repetitive mannerisms (e.g., spinning), marked anxiety during environmental changes, and high pain threshold. As to be expected, school performance is poor, though autistic children may display isolated areas (islands) of normal or superior intellectual functioning. Behavioral manipulation is useful in trying to contain the behavior of autistic children. Unlike infantile autism, childhood schizophrenia usually develops later in childhood and follows an intermittent course. Deterioration in social or school functioning is a characteristic presenting feature, along with hallucinations, delusions, and other manifestations of psychosis.
Phenothiazine drugs offer effective treatment. Symptoms and signs of depression in children are similar to those in adults. However, children may not be able to recognize depressed feelings. Persistence of puzzling physical problems in association with apathetic, withdrawn behavior is a common presentation.
The use of antidepressants is controversial; family and individual counseling often can be quite helpful.
ADHD once was called hyperactivity and minimal brain dysfunction. Characteristic signs include impulsivity, distractibility, inattention in school, and (usually but not universally) hyperactivity. A variety of pharmacologic agents, including imipramine, dextroamphetamine, and methylphenidate (Ritalin), have been recommended for treatment of ADHD.



A35-year-old man comes into the hospital with deep sadness and suicidal thoughts. He reports having experienced similar episodes in the past; he says he has also experienced two periods of extremely elated moods, during which he talked nonstop, went without sleep, and believed he was God. Identify the diagnosis below that best describes the situation.

  1. major depressive disorder, recurrent
  2. bipolar I disorder
  3. bipolar II disorder
  4. cyclothymia
  5. dysthymic disorder
  6. mood disorder due to a general medical condition
  7. substance-induced mood disorder

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

The criteria for mood disorders depend on the presence or absence and duration of depressive and hypomanic or manic symptoms as well as on their severity, and also on the presence or absence of a causative general medical condition or the ingestion of substances. Major depressive disorder, recurrent, is marked by the lifetime occurrence of two or more major depressive episodes without intervening hypomanic or manic episodes. A major depressive episode is a severe depression which has lasted at least 2 weeks. Bipolar I disorder is characterized by a history of at least one full-blown manic episode, during which the patient's mood has been abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive or irritable for at least 1 week with marked impairment in occupational functioning. Bipolar II disorder, on the other hand, is marked by a history of at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, during which a patient's mood has been elevated, but not to the extent of causing marked impairment in social or occupational functioning. Apatient with bipolar II disorder may not, by definition, have had a full- blown manic episode.
Cyclothymia is marked by periods of hypomanic symptoms alternating with depressive symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a major depressive episode. Dysthymic disorder is marked by a persistent, low- grade depression occurring more days than not for at least 2 years. Amood disorder due to a general medical condition is a prominent and persistent disturbance in mood that is judged to be the direct physiologic effect of a general medical condition, such as hyperthyroidism. A substance-induced mood disorder is a prominent and persistent disturbance in mood that is judged to be due to the direct effects of a substance, but which continues beyond the usual period of intoxication or withdrawal from a substance.



A24-year-old cocaine addict with no previous psychiatric history, reports that he had been bingeing on cocaine for 2 months earlier in the year. He stopped using cocaine 2 months ago, and he has been very sad and tearful for the entire period since he stopped his cocaine use. Identify the diagnosis below that best describes the situation.

  1. major depressive disorder, recurrent
  2. bipolar I disorder
  3. bipolar II disorder
  4. cyclothymia
  5. dysthymic disorder
  6. mood disorder due to a general medical condition
  7. substance-induced mood disorder

Answer(s): G

Explanation:

The criteria for mood disorders depend on the presence or absence and duration of depressive and hypomanic or manic symptoms as well as on their severity, and also on the presence or absence of a causative general medical condition or the ingestion of substances. Major depressive disorder, recurrent, is marked by the lifetime occurrence of two or more major depressive episodes without intervening hypomanic or manic episodes. A major depressive episode is a severe depression which has lasted at least 2 weeks. Bipolar I disorder is characterized by a history of at least one full-blown manic episode, during which the patient's mood has been abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive or irritable for at least 1 week with marked impairment in occupational functioning. Bipolar II disorder, on the other hand, is marked by a history of at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, during which a patient's mood has been elevated, but not to the extent of causing marked impairment in social or occupational functioning. Apatient with bipolar II disorder may not, by definition, have had a full- blown manic episode.
Cyclothymia is marked by periods of hypomanic symptoms alternating with depressive symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a major depressive episode. Dysthymic disorder is marked by a persistent, low- grade depression occurring more days than not for at least 2 years. Amood disorder due to a general medical condition is a prominent and persistent disturbance in mood that is judged to be the direct physiologic effect of a general medical condition, such as hyperthyroidism. A substance-induced mood disorder is a prominent and persistent disturbance in mood that is judged to be due to the direct effects of a substance, but which continues beyond the usual period of intoxication or withdrawal from a substance.



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