Culture-bound syndromes: ataque de nervios: 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 · Culture-bound syndromes: ataque de nervios

Sample item

A Latin American woman, after her brother's funeral, screams, trembles, has chest heat rising to the head and collapses, with subsequent amnesia but rapid recovery. This is

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Ataque de nervios

Ataque de nervios is a culturally recognised distress syndrome in Latin Caribbean groups, triggered by stressful events such as bereavement, with uncontrollable shouting, crying, trembling, heat in the chest, verbal or physical aggression and sometimes faint-like episodes. Recovery is quick and there is no psychosis. It overlaps with panic and dissociation.

Option by option

  • A. Organic delirium

    Delirium shows clouded consciousness with a medical cause.

  • B. Epileptic seizure

    Epilepsy would show stereotyped seizures with postictal confusion.

  • C. Ataque de nervios (correct)

    Correct. A stress-triggered emotional outburst with rapid recovery is ataque de nervios.

  • D. Schizophrenia

    Schizophrenia involves persistent psychosis.

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, Ataque de nervios. Ataque de nervios is a culturally recognised distress syndrome in Latin Caribbean groups, triggered by stressful events such as bereavement, with uncontrollable shouting, crying, trembling, heat in the chest, verbal or physical aggression and sometimes faint-like episodes.

Why is "Organic delirium" not the answer?

Delirium shows clouded consciousness with a medical cause.

Why is "Epileptic seizure" not the answer?

Epilepsy would show stereotyped seizures with postictal confusion.

Why is "Schizophrenia" not the answer?

Schizophrenia involves persistent psychosis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Culture-bound syndromes: ataque de nervios in Psychiatry. Recovery is quick and there is no psychosis. It overlaps with panic and dissociation.

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 Culture-bound syndromes: ataque de nervios?

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.