Psychotic disorders: schizoaffective disorder: 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 · Psychotic disorders: schizoaffective disorder

Sample item

A patient has a major depressive episode with hallucinations, and for at least 2 weeks has delusions and hallucinations while his mood is normal. Mood symptoms are present for most of the illness. The diagnosis is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Schizoaffective disorder

Schizoaffective disorder is diagnosed when psychosis persists for 2 or more weeks in the absence of a major mood episode, while mood episodes are present for the majority of the illness. If psychosis occurs only during mood episodes, it is a mood disorder with psychotic features.

Option by option

  • A. Schizoaffective disorder (correct)

    Correct. Psychosis outside mood episodes (at least 2 weeks) plus prominent mood episodes is schizoaffective.

  • B. Schizophrenia

    Schizophrenia has brief mood episodes relative to the total duration.

  • C. Brief psychotic disorder

    Brief psychotic disorder lasts under one month.

  • D. Major depression with psychotic features

    Psychotic depression has psychosis only during the mood episode.

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, Schizoaffective disorder. Schizoaffective disorder is diagnosed when psychosis persists for 2 or more weeks in the absence of a major mood episode, while mood episodes are present for the majority of the illness.

Why is "Schizophrenia" not the answer?

Schizophrenia has brief mood episodes relative to the total duration.

Why is "Brief psychotic disorder" not the answer?

Brief psychotic disorder lasts under one month.

Why is "Major depression with psychotic features" not the answer?

Psychotic depression has psychosis only during the mood episode.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychotic disorders: schizoaffective disorder in Psychiatry. If psychosis occurs only during mood episodes, it is a mood disorder with psychotic features.

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 Psychotic disorders: schizoaffective disorder?

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.