Psychopathology: hypnagogic hallucination: 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 · Psychopathology: hypnagogic hallucination

Sample item

A 22-year-old student sees brief vivid images and hears his name just as he is drifting off to sleep. He is otherwise well. This phenomenon is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Hypnagogic hallucination, a normal variant

Hypnagogic hallucinations occur at sleep onset, and hypnopompic ones on waking. They can occur in normal people, but frequent episodes raise the possibility of narcolepsy.

Option by option

  • A. Sign of schizophrenia

    Schizophrenia hallucinations occur in clear wakefulness with other symptoms.

  • B. Hypnagogic hallucination, a normal variant (correct)

    Correct. Hallucinations at sleep onset are hypnagogic and may be normal.

  • C. Temporal lobe aura requiring surgery

    Nothing suggests an epileptic aura or surgical need in this brief, sleep-onset phenomenon.

  • D. Alcohol hallucinosis

    Alcohol hallucinosis needs heavy drinking and occurs in clear consciousness.

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 B, Hypnagogic hallucination, a normal variant. Hypnagogic hallucinations occur at sleep onset, and hypnopompic ones on waking.

Why is "Sign of schizophrenia" not the answer?

Schizophrenia hallucinations occur in clear wakefulness with other symptoms.

Why is "Temporal lobe aura requiring surgery" not the answer?

Nothing suggests an epileptic aura or surgical need in this brief, sleep-onset phenomenon.

Why is "Alcohol hallucinosis" not the answer?

Alcohol hallucinosis needs heavy drinking and occurs in clear consciousness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychopathology: hypnagogic hallucination in Psychiatry. They can occur in normal people, but frequent episodes raise the possibility of narcolepsy.

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 Psychopathology: hypnagogic hallucination?

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.