Forensic psychiatry: irresistible impulse: 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: irresistible impulse

Sample item

An accused with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder knew that setting fire to a shop was wrong, but claims that he could not resist the urge. Which legal test concerns loss of control despite knowledge of wrongness?

AMcNaghten ruleBTest of the lucid intervalCIrresistible impulse testDDurham rule

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Irresistible impulse test

The irresistible impulse test addresses the volitional element, that the accused knew the act was wrong but was unable to control it because of mental disease. It supplements the cognitive McNaghten test but is not accepted in Indian law.

Option by option

A. McNaghten rule
The McNaghten rule is a cognitive test of knowing the nature of the act or its wrongness.
B. Test of the lucid interval
The lucid interval concerns validity of acts done during a period of sanity within an illness.
C. Irresistible impulse test (correct)
This test deals with loss of self-control despite knowledge of wrongness.
D. Durham rule
The Durham rule turns on whether the act was the product of mental disease and not on loss of control.

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 Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Irresistible impulse test. The irresistible impulse test addresses the volitional element, that the accused knew the act was wrong but was unable to control it because of mental disease.

Why is "McNaghten rule" not the answer?

The McNaghten rule is a cognitive test of knowing the nature of the act or its wrongness.

Why is "Test of the lucid interval" not the answer?

The lucid interval concerns validity of acts done during a period of sanity within an illness.

Why is "Durham rule" not the answer?

The Durham rule turns on whether the act was the product of mental disease and not on loss of control.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Forensic psychiatry: irresistible impulse in Forensic Medicine. It supplements the cognitive McNaghten test but is not accepted in Indian law.

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: irresistible impulse?

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.