Sleep-wake disorders: narcolepsy: 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 · Sleep-wake disorders: narcolepsy

Sample item

A student has irresistible daytime sleep episodes and suddenly loses muscle tone when laughing, while remaining conscious. Which diagnosis is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Narcolepsy with cataplexy

Narcolepsy is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness; cataplexy is sudden emotion-triggered loss of muscle tone with preserved consciousness. Other REM-related phenomena may also occur.

Option by option

  • A. Obstructive sleep apnea

    Obstructive sleep apnea causes sleep fragmentation and daytime sleepiness but not cataplexy.

  • B. Nightmare disorder

    Nightmare disorder causes dysphoric dreams, not daytime sleep attacks.

  • C. REM sleep behavior disorder

    REM sleep behavior disorder involves acting out dreams because of loss of REM atonia.

  • D. Narcolepsy with cataplexy (correct)

    Correct. Laughter-triggered loss of tone is cataplexy, strongly suggesting narcolepsy type 1.

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, Narcolepsy with cataplexy. Narcolepsy is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness; cataplexy is sudden emotion-triggered loss of muscle tone with preserved consciousness.

Why is "Obstructive sleep apnea" not the answer?

Obstructive sleep apnea causes sleep fragmentation and daytime sleepiness but not cataplexy.

Why is "Nightmare disorder" not the answer?

Nightmare disorder causes dysphoric dreams, not daytime sleep attacks.

Why is "REM sleep behavior disorder" not the answer?

REM sleep behavior disorder involves acting out dreams because of loss of REM atonia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Sleep-wake disorders: narcolepsy in Psychiatry. Other REM-related phenomena may also occur.

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 Sleep-wake disorders: narcolepsy?

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.