Organic mental disorders: hypercalcaemia: 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 · Organic mental disorders: hypercalcaemia

Sample item

A 55-year-old woman has fatigue, constipation, low mood and impaired concentration. She also reports polyuria and a past renal stone. Which metabolic abnormality should be sought first?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Hypercalcaemia

Primary hyperparathyroidism causes hypercalcaemia with 'stones, bones, abdominal groans and psychic moans'. Psychiatric features include depression, apathy and cognitive slowing, and severe hypercalcaemia can cause delirium. The symptoms often improve after the calcium is corrected.

Option by option

  • A. Hypocalcaemia

    Hypocalcaemia causes tetany, paraesthesia and anxiety, not renal stones or constipation.

  • B. Hypoglycaemia

    Hypoglycaemia causes sweating, tremor and altered consciousness acutely.

  • C. Hypercalcaemia (correct)

    Correct. Stones, constipation, polyuria and depression point to raised calcium.

  • D. Hyponatraemia

    Hyponatraemia causes confusion and seizures but not stones and polyuria.

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 Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Hypercalcaemia. Primary hyperparathyroidism causes hypercalcaemia with 'stones, bones, abdominal groans and psychic moans'.

Why is "Hypocalcaemia" not the answer?

Hypocalcaemia causes tetany, paraesthesia and anxiety, not renal stones or constipation.

Why is "Hypoglycaemia" not the answer?

Hypoglycaemia causes sweating, tremor and altered consciousness acutely.

Why is "Hyponatraemia" not the answer?

Hyponatraemia causes confusion and seizures but not stones and polyuria.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Organic mental disorders: hypercalcaemia in Psychiatry. Psychiatric features include depression, apathy and cognitive slowing, and severe hypercalcaemia can cause delirium. The symptoms often improve after the calcium is corrected.

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: hypercalcaemia?

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.