Organic mental disorders: cortical versus subcortical dementia: 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: cortical versus subcortical dementia

Sample item

A 58-year-old man with Huntington disease has marked slowing of thought, apathy, impaired retrieval of memories and difficulty planning, but no aphasia, apraxia or agnosia. Which kind of dementia does this profile represent?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Subcortical dementia

Subcortical dementias such as Huntington disease, Parkinson disease and subcortical vascular disease show psychomotor slowing, apathy, executive dysfunction and impaired retrieval with preserved language. Cortical dementias such as Alzheimer disease show aphasia, apraxia, agnosia and impaired encoding.

Option by option

  • A. Subcortical dementia (correct)

    Correct. Slowing, apathy and executive deficits without cortical signs define it.

  • B. Mixed cortical-limbic dementia

    Mixed cortical-limbic dementia is not a recognised category for this pattern.

  • C. Cortical dementia

    Cortical dementia is characterised by aphasia, apraxia and agnosia, which are absent here.

  • D. Reversible dementia

    Huntington disease is progressive and irreversible, so the dementia is not reversible.

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 A, Subcortical dementia. Subcortical dementias such as Huntington disease, Parkinson disease and subcortical vascular disease show psychomotor slowing, apathy, executive dysfunction and impaired retrieval with preserved language.

Why is "Mixed cortical-limbic dementia" not the answer?

Mixed cortical-limbic dementia is not a recognised category for this pattern.

Why is "Cortical dementia" not the answer?

Cortical dementia is characterised by aphasia, apraxia and agnosia, which are absent here.

Why is "Reversible dementia" not the answer?

Huntington disease is progressive and irreversible, so the dementia is not reversible.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Organic mental disorders: cortical versus subcortical dementia in Psychiatry. Cortical dementias such as Alzheimer disease show aphasia, apraxia, agnosia and impaired encoding.

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: cortical versus subcortical dementia?

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.