Psychotic disorders: gegenhalten: 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 · Psychotic disorders: gegenhalten

Sample item

A mute, rigid patient with catatonic schizophrenia is examined. When the examiner tries to bend his elbow, he resists with a force exactly matching the force applied, whichever direction is tried, without being told to resist. Which motor sign is this?

AMitgehenBGegenhaltenCCatalepsyDWaxy flexibility

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Gegenhalten

Gegenhalten is an involuntary resistance to passive movement that is proportional to the force applied by the examiner. It differs from negativism because the patient has not been asked to do anything, and from waxy flexibility, where resistance is uniform and the new posture is held.

Option by option

A. Mitgehen
Mitgehen is a limb moving in the direction of light pressure despite the instruction to resist.
B. Gegenhalten (correct)
Correct. Resistance proportional to the force applied is gegenhalten.
C. Catalepsy
Catalepsy is passive maintenance of a posture placed by the examiner and does not describe force-matched resistance.
D. Waxy flexibility
Waxy flexibility gives an even, plastic resistance and the limb stays in the new position.

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 Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is B, Gegenhalten. Gegenhalten is an involuntary resistance to passive movement that is proportional to the force applied by the examiner.

Why is "Mitgehen" not the answer?

Mitgehen is a limb moving in the direction of light pressure despite the instruction to resist.

Why is "Catalepsy" not the answer?

Catalepsy is passive maintenance of a posture placed by the examiner and does not describe force-matched resistance.

Why is "Waxy flexibility" not the answer?

Waxy flexibility gives an even, plastic resistance and the limb stays in the new position.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychotic disorders: gegenhalten in Psychiatry. It differs from negativism because the patient has not been asked to do anything, and from waxy flexibility, where resistance is uniform and the new posture is held.

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 Psychotic disorders: gegenhalten?

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.