Organic psychiatry: hypoactive delirium: 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: hypoactive delirium

Sample item

A post-operative elderly patient is lethargic, drowsy and slow to respond, and the team considers him depressed. Why is this presentation important?

AIt requires antipsychotics in all casesBIt never has a medical causeCIt is always benignDHypoactive delirium is commonly missed and carries a worse prognosis

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Hypoactive delirium is commonly missed and carries a worse prognosis

Hypoactive delirium shows lethargy, reduced speech and withdrawal, and is frequently mistaken for depression or dementia. It is associated with poorer outcomes than the hyperactive form. The cause, such as infection, drugs or metabolic disturbance, must be found and treated.

Option by option

A. It requires antipsychotics in all cases
Treatment is directed at the cause and antipsychotics are not mandatory.
B. It never has a medical cause
It always has an underlying medical or drug cause.
C. It is always benign
It is not benign.
D. Hypoactive delirium is commonly missed and carries a worse prognosis (correct)
Correct. It is frequently missed and carries a worse outcome.

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.

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, Hypoactive delirium is commonly missed and carries a worse prognosis. Hypoactive delirium shows lethargy, reduced speech and withdrawal, and is frequently mistaken for depression or dementia.

Why is "It requires antipsychotics in all cases" not the answer?

Treatment is directed at the cause and antipsychotics are not mandatory.

Why is "It never has a medical cause" not the answer?

It always has an underlying medical or drug cause.

Why is "It is always benign" not the answer?

It is not benign.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Organic psychiatry: hypoactive delirium in Psychiatry. It is associated with poorer outcomes than the hyperactive form. The cause, such as infection, drugs or metabolic disturbance, must be found and treated.

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: hypoactive delirium?

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.