Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: psychogenic impotence: 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 · Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: psychogenic impotence

Sample item

A healthy 26-year-old newly married man with normal hormone levels cannot sustain erection with his wife but has regular nocturnal erections and morning erections. What is the likeliest cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Psychogenic

Preserved nocturnal and morning erections show an intact neurovascular and hormonal mechanism, so the failure is psychogenic. Psychological causes are the commonest reason for impotence in young men.

Option by option

  • A. Diabetic neuropathy

    Diabetic neuropathy abolishes erections generally and occurs in a diabetic patient.

  • B. Psychogenic (correct)

    Correct. Normal nocturnal erections point to a psychological cause.

  • C. Peyronie's disease

    Peyronie's disease gives a curved, painful penis with plaques.

  • D. Hypogonadism

    Hypogonadism lowers libido and testosterone, which are normal here.

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, Psychogenic. Preserved nocturnal and morning erections show an intact neurovascular and hormonal mechanism, so the failure is psychogenic.

Why is "Diabetic neuropathy" not the answer?

Diabetic neuropathy abolishes erections generally and occurs in a diabetic patient.

Why is "Peyronie's disease" not the answer?

Peyronie's disease gives a curved, painful penis with plaques.

Why is "Hypogonadism" not the answer?

Hypogonadism lowers libido and testosterone, which are normal here.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: psychogenic impotence in Forensic Medicine. Psychological causes are the commonest reason for impotence in young men.

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 Sexual offences and forensic psychiatry: psychogenic impotence?

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.