Child and adolescent psychiatry: cri-du-chat syndrome: 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 · Child and adolescent psychiatry: cri-du-chat syndrome

Sample item

A newborn has a high-pitched cat-like cry, microcephaly, hypertelorism and later severe intellectual disability. What is the chromosomal abnormality?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5

Cri-du-chat syndrome results from a deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5 (5p-). Trisomy 21 causes Down syndrome, and 15q11-q13 deletions cause Prader-Willi or Angelman syndrome.

Option by option

  • A. Extra X chromosome in a male

    An extra X in a male is Klinefelter syndrome.

  • B. Deletion of chromosome 15q11-q13

    A 15q11-q13 deletion causes Prader-Willi or Angelman syndrome.

  • C. Deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5 (correct)

    Correct. The 5p deletion produces the cat-like cry.

  • D. Trisomy 21

    Trisomy 21 causes Down syndrome, with hypotonia and upslanting eyes.

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, Deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5. Cri-du-chat syndrome results from a deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5 (5p-).

Why is "Extra X chromosome in a male" not the answer?

An extra X in a male is Klinefelter syndrome.

Why is "Deletion of chromosome 15q11-q13" not the answer?

A 15q11-q13 deletion causes Prader-Willi or Angelman syndrome.

Why is "Trisomy 21" not the answer?

Trisomy 21 causes Down syndrome, with hypotonia and upslanting eyes.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Child and adolescent psychiatry: cri-du-chat syndrome in Psychiatry. Trisomy 21 causes Down syndrome, and 15q11-q13 deletions cause Prader-Willi or Angelman syndrome.

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 Child and adolescent psychiatry: cri-du-chat syndrome?

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.