Organic psychiatry: pseudodementia: 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 psychiatry: pseudodementia

Sample item

An elderly man with low mood says 'I don't know' to most questions, makes little effort on testing, and has rapid onset of cognitive complaints. The most likely diagnosis is:

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Depressive pseudodementia

In depressive pseudodementia, cognitive impairment is secondary to depression, with patients emphasising their deficits, giving 'don't know' answers and having shorter duration. It improves with antidepressant treatment, whereas dementia patients often confabulate and hide deficits.

Option by option

  • A. Alzheimer disease

    Alzheimer patients tend to conceal deficits and guess answers.

  • B. Lewy body dementia

    Lewy body dementia has hallucinations and fluctuation.

  • C. Depressive pseudodementia (correct)

    Correct. 'Don't know' answers with low mood suggest pseudodementia.

  • D. Pick disease

    Pick disease shows personality change.

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, Depressive pseudodementia. In depressive pseudodementia, cognitive impairment is secondary to depression, with patients emphasising their deficits, giving 'don't know' answers and having shorter duration.

Why is "Alzheimer disease" not the answer?

Alzheimer patients tend to conceal deficits and guess answers.

Why is "Lewy body dementia" not the answer?

Lewy body dementia has hallucinations and fluctuation.

Why is "Pick disease" not the answer?

Pick disease shows personality change.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Organic psychiatry: pseudodementia in Psychiatry. It improves with antidepressant treatment, whereas dementia patients often confabulate and hide deficits.

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 psychiatry: pseudodementia?

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.