Organic psychiatry: frontal lobe syndrome: 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 · Organic psychiatry: frontal lobe syndrome

Sample item

After a road accident, a previously polite man jokes inappropriately, shows poor judgment and apathy, and persists in a wrong response in a card-sorting test. Which area is damaged?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Frontal lobe

Frontal lobe damage causes disinhibition or apathy, poor judgment, perseveration, and facetious humour (Witzelsucht), with relatively preserved memory and language. Perseveration on the Wisconsin card sorting test is a typical finding. Dorsolateral lesions give apathy while orbitofrontal lesions give disinhibition.

Option by option

  • A. Occipital lobe

    Occipital lesions cause visual loss.

  • B. Brainstem

    Brainstem lesions cause cranial nerve and consciousness changes.

  • C. Frontal lobe (correct)

    Correct. Personality change and perseveration localise to the frontal lobe.

  • D. Cerebellum

    Cerebellar lesions cause ataxia.

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 C, Frontal lobe. Frontal lobe damage causes disinhibition or apathy, poor judgment, perseveration, and facetious humour (Witzelsucht), with relatively preserved memory and language.

Why is "Occipital lobe" not the answer?

Occipital lesions cause visual loss.

Why is "Brainstem" not the answer?

Brainstem lesions cause cranial nerve and consciousness changes.

Why is "Cerebellum" not the answer?

Cerebellar lesions cause ataxia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Organic psychiatry: frontal lobe syndrome in Psychiatry. Perseveration on the Wisconsin card sorting test is a typical finding. Dorsolateral lesions give apathy while orbitofrontal lesions give disinhibition.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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 Organic psychiatry: frontal lobe syndrome?

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.