Forensic psychiatry: lucid interval: 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: lucid interval

Sample item

A man with bipolar disorder executed a will during a period of remission. After his death, a relative challenges it on grounds of insanity. Which approach reflects the law on testamentary capacity?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. The will is valid if at the time of making it he understood the nature of the act, his property and his claimants, even if ill at other times

Testamentary capacity is judged at the time the will was made. A person of unsound mind can make a valid will during a lucid interval, if he knew he was making a will, knew the extent of his property and knew who had a natural claim on it. Medical evidence of his mental state around that time is critical.

Option by option

  • A. The will is valid if at the time of making it he understood the nature of the act, his property and his claimants, even if ill at other times (correct)

    Correct. Capacity at the time of execution, including in a lucid interval, is what matters.

  • B. The will is valid only if made in hospital

    A will may be made anywhere, and hospital location is not a requirement.

  • C. The will is invalid because he has a mental illness

    A diagnosis alone does not remove capacity; the state at the time of execution is decisive.

  • D. The will is valid only if he had never been ill

    There is no requirement that a person has never been ill.

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 Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, The will is valid if at the time of making it he understood the nature of the act, his property and his claimants, even if ill at other times. Testamentary capacity is judged at the time the will was made.

Why is "The will is valid only if made in hospital" not the answer?

A will may be made anywhere, and hospital location is not a requirement.

Why is "The will is invalid because he has a mental illness" not the answer?

A diagnosis alone does not remove capacity; the state at the time of execution is decisive.

Why is "The will is valid only if he had never been ill" not the answer?

There is no requirement that a person has never been ill.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Forensic psychiatry: lucid interval in Forensic Medicine. A person of unsound mind can make a valid will during a lucid interval, if he knew he was making a will, knew the extent of his property and knew who had a natural claim on it. Medical evidence of his mental state around that time is critical.

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 Forensic psychiatry: lucid interval?

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.