Rosh Psychiatry Board Practice Exam 2026 - Free Psychiatry Board Practice Questions and Study Guide

Modafinil is primarily prescribed for narcolepsy, which is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks. This medication is a wakefulness-promoting agent that helps individuals maintain alertness and reduces the frequency of these sleep episodes. It works by affecting certain neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

In the context of narcolepsy, Modafinil is helpful as it addresses the underlying issue of excessive sleepiness, allowing patients to better manage their daily activities and improve their quality of life. The use of Modafinil for this disorder is supported by clinical evidence demonstrating its effectiveness in increasing wakefulness and reducing the severity of symptoms associated with narcolepsy.

Other conditions, such as depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders, may require different treatment approaches, typically involving antidepressants, antipsychotics, or anxiolytics, which are specifically designed to target the symptoms of those disorders. While Modafinil may have some off-label uses, its primary indication is for narcolepsy.