Eating and sleep disorders: idiopathic hypersomnia: 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 · Eating and sleep disorders: idiopathic hypersomnia

Sample item

A 24-year-old sleeps 11 hours nightly yet wakes unrefreshed with marked grogginess. Long naps do not refresh him. He has no cataplexy, and a nap study shows short latencies but fewer than two sleep-onset REM periods. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Idiopathic hypersomnia

Idiopathic hypersomnia features prolonged sleep, unrefreshing naps and severe sleep inertia without cataplexy and without the REM intrusion of narcolepsy. Delayed phase disorder would show normal sleep if timing were freed, and apnoea would show breathing events.

Option by option

  • A. Obstructive sleep apnoea

    Sleep apnoea would be shown by breathing events on polysomnography and typical features such as snoring.

  • B. Idiopathic hypersomnia (correct)

    Correct. Long unrefreshing sleep with sleep inertia and no REM intrusion fits idiopathic hypersomnia.

  • C. Delayed sleep phase disorder

    Delayed sleep phase gives late sleep timing and normal refreshing sleep when allowed.

  • D. Narcolepsy with cataplexy

    Narcolepsy needs cataplexy or multiple sleep-onset REM periods, which are absent 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 Psychiatry questions

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is B, Idiopathic hypersomnia. Idiopathic hypersomnia features prolonged sleep, unrefreshing naps and severe sleep inertia without cataplexy and without the REM intrusion of narcolepsy.

Why is "Obstructive sleep apnoea" not the answer?

Sleep apnoea would be shown by breathing events on polysomnography and typical features such as snoring.

Why is "Delayed sleep phase disorder" not the answer?

Delayed sleep phase gives late sleep timing and normal refreshing sleep when allowed.

Why is "Narcolepsy with cataplexy" not the answer?

Narcolepsy needs cataplexy or multiple sleep-onset REM periods, which are absent here.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Eating and sleep disorders: idiopathic hypersomnia in Psychiatry. Delayed phase disorder would show normal sleep if timing were freed, and apnoea would show breathing events.

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 Eating and sleep disorders: idiopathic hypersomnia?

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.