Trauma: enduring personality change: 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 · Trauma: enduring personality change

Sample item

In ICD-10, a person who survived years in a concentration camp shows a hostile distrust of the world, social withdrawal and chronic feeling of emptiness for more than two years, with no earlier personality disorder. The category is

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Enduring personality change after catastrophic experience

ICD-10 describes enduring personality change after catastrophic experience as a lasting change following extreme stress, such as torture or captivity, with hostile or distrustful attitude, social withdrawal and feelings of emptiness or hopelessness, persisting for at least two years. It requires no pre-existing personality disorder. It is not a time-limited reaction.

Option by option

  • A. Borderline personality disorder

    Borderline personality disorder has onset in adolescence or early adulthood with no catastrophic trigger.

  • B. Adjustment disorder

    Adjustment disorder resolves within months after a lesser stressor.

  • C. Acute stress reaction

    Acute stress reaction settles within days.

  • D. Enduring personality change after catastrophic experience (correct)

    Correct. Lasting change after extreme stress in a previously normal person fits.

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 D, Enduring personality change after catastrophic experience. ICD-10 describes enduring personality change after catastrophic experience as a lasting change following extreme stress, such as torture or captivity, with hostile or distrustful attitude, social withdrawal and feelings of emptiness or hopelessness, persisting for at least two years.

Why is "Borderline personality disorder" not the answer?

Borderline personality disorder has onset in adolescence or early adulthood with no catastrophic trigger.

Why is "Adjustment disorder" not the answer?

Adjustment disorder resolves within months after a lesser stressor.

Why is "Acute stress reaction" not the answer?

Acute stress reaction settles within days.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Trauma: enduring personality change in Psychiatry. It requires no pre-existing personality disorder. It is not a time-limited reaction.

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 Trauma: enduring personality change?

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.