Forensic psychiatry: practice question

A Forensic Medicine 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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Forensic Medicine · Forensic psychiatry

Sample item

What is the purpose of a mental-state examination in forensic assessment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Describe current cognition, mood, thought, and perception

Mental-state examination systematically records current psychological functioning and informs risk, capacity, diagnosis, and legal opinions with collateral evidence.

Option by option

  • A. Estimate body temperature after death

    Postmortem temperature is unrelated.

  • B. Describe current cognition, mood, thought, and perception (correct)

    Correct: it describes present mental functioning.

  • C. Prove criminal guilt automatically

    Guilt is a legal conclusion using broader evidence.

  • D. Measure visual-field defects

    Visual fields require eye examination.

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.

More Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Describe current cognition, mood, thought, and perception. Mental-state examination systematically records current psychological functioning and informs risk, capacity, diagnosis, and legal opinions with collateral evidence.

Why is "Estimate body temperature after death" not the answer?

Postmortem temperature is unrelated.

Why is "Prove criminal guilt automatically" not the answer?

Guilt is a legal conclusion using broader evidence.

Why is "Measure visual-field defects" not the answer?

Visual fields require eye examination.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Forensic psychiatry in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: it describes present mental functioning.

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 Forensic psychiatry?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine 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.