Sexual disorders: erectile dysfunction: 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 · Sexual disorders: erectile dysfunction

Sample item

A 28-year-old man cannot sustain an erection with his partner but has normal morning erections and can masturbate normally. The most likely cause is:

AHypogonadismBPsychogenic erectile dysfunctionCDiabetic neuropathyDPeripheral vascular disease

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Psychogenic erectile dysfunction

Preserved nocturnal and morning erections and masturbation point to psychogenic erectile disorder, usually due to performance anxiety, while organic causes typically abolish all erections. Sex therapy and PDE-5 inhibitors are used.

Option by option

A. Hypogonadism
Hypogonadism lowers libido and nocturnal erections.
B. Psychogenic erectile dysfunction (correct)
Correct. Preserved spontaneous erections indicate a psychogenic cause.
C. Diabetic neuropathy
Neuropathy would impair erections in all circumstances.
D. Peripheral vascular disease
Vascular disease would also affect all erections.

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.

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is B, Psychogenic erectile dysfunction. Preserved nocturnal and morning erections and masturbation point to psychogenic erectile disorder, usually due to performance anxiety, while organic causes typically abolish all erections.

Why is "Hypogonadism" not the answer?

Hypogonadism lowers libido and nocturnal erections.

Why is "Diabetic neuropathy" not the answer?

Neuropathy would impair erections in all circumstances.

Why is "Peripheral vascular disease" not the answer?

Vascular disease would also affect all erections.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Sexual disorders: erectile dysfunction in Psychiatry. Sex therapy and PDE-5 inhibitors are used.

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 Sexual disorders: erectile dysfunction?

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.