Organic mental disorders: EEG in hepatic encephalopathy: 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.

Try it

Psychiatry · Organic mental disorders: EEG in hepatic encephalopathy

Sample item

A cirrhotic patient is drowsy and disoriented, with flapping tremor of the outstretched hands. Which EEG finding is characteristic of this metabolic encephalopathy?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Triphasic waves

Triphasic waves, generalised bursts of high-amplitude slow activity with a three-phase morphology, are typical of hepatic and other metabolic encephalopathies. Periodic sharp waves are seen in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Option by option

  • A. Three-per-second spike and wave

    Three-per-second spike and wave is the pattern of absence epilepsy.

  • B. Periodic sharp wave complexes

    Periodic sharp wave complexes are typical of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

  • C. Triphasic waves (correct)

    Correct. Triphasic waves are characteristic of metabolic encephalopathy such as hepatic coma.

  • D. Hypsarrhythmia

    Hypsarrhythmia is the chaotic EEG pattern of infantile spasms.

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 Psychiatry questions

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Triphasic waves. Triphasic waves, generalised bursts of high-amplitude slow activity with a three-phase morphology, are typical of hepatic and other metabolic encephalopathies.

Why is "Three-per-second spike and wave" not the answer?

Three-per-second spike and wave is the pattern of absence epilepsy.

Why is "Periodic sharp wave complexes" not the answer?

Periodic sharp wave complexes are typical of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Why is "Hypsarrhythmia" not the answer?

Hypsarrhythmia is the chaotic EEG pattern of infantile spasms.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Organic mental disorders: EEG in hepatic encephalopathy in Psychiatry. Periodic sharp waves are seen in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

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 Organic mental disorders: EEG in hepatic encephalopathy?

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.