Conversion disorder: psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: 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 · Conversion disorder: psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

Sample item

Which feature favours a psychogenic nonepileptic seizure over an epileptic seizure?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Eyes closed during the event with preserved reactivity and no postictal confusion

Features pointing to nonepileptic events include closed eyes throughout, long duration, side-to-side head movement, asynchronous thrashing, emotional triggers and quick recovery without postictal confusion. Lateral tongue biting and raised post-event prolactin favour epilepsy. Video EEG is the definitive test.

Option by option

  • A. Tongue bitten laterally

    Lateral tongue biting favours epilepsy.

  • B. Eyes closed during the event with preserved reactivity and no postictal confusion (correct)

    Correct. Eyes closed with quick recovery favours a nonepileptic event.

  • C. Raised serum prolactin after the event

    A raised prolactin within 20 minutes favours epilepsy.

  • D. Urinary incontinence with cyanosis

    Cyanosis with incontinence is more typical of a generalised tonic-clonic seizure.

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, Eyes closed during the event with preserved reactivity and no postictal confusion. Features pointing to nonepileptic events include closed eyes throughout, long duration, side-to-side head movement, asynchronous thrashing, emotional triggers and quick recovery without postictal confusion.

Why is "Tongue bitten laterally" not the answer?

Lateral tongue biting favours epilepsy.

Why is "Raised serum prolactin after the event" not the answer?

A raised prolactin within 20 minutes favours epilepsy.

Why is "Urinary incontinence with cyanosis" not the answer?

Cyanosis with incontinence is more typical of a generalised tonic-clonic seizure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Conversion disorder: psychogenic nonepileptic seizures in Psychiatry. Lateral tongue biting and raised post-event prolactin favour epilepsy. Video EEG is the definitive test.

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 Conversion disorder: psychogenic nonepileptic seizures?

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.