Mood disorders: delirious mania: 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 · Mood disorders: delirious mania

Sample item

A 27-year-old man with bipolar disorder is brought with a week of extreme overactivity, insomnia and pressured speech. He is now disoriented, drowsy at times, and sees visions. Intoxication and metabolic causes are excluded. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Delirious mania

Delirious mania combines severe manic excitement with clouding of consciousness, disorientation and fluctuation. It is a medical emergency that responds well to benzodiazepines and ECT. Disorientation and fluctuating awareness separate it from uncomplicated mania or schizoaffective illness.

Option by option

  • A. Schizoaffective disorder, manic type

    Schizoaffective disorder has clear consciousness and orientation.

  • B. Delirious mania (correct)

    Correct. Manic excitement with clouding of consciousness defines delirious mania.

  • C. Alcohol withdrawal delirium

    Alcohol withdrawal is excluded by the history, and the manic syndrome is not explained by it.

  • D. Brief psychotic disorder

    Brief psychotic disorder has a short course and does not fit a bipolar patient with mania and delirium.

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, Delirious mania. Delirious mania combines severe manic excitement with clouding of consciousness, disorientation and fluctuation.

Why is "Schizoaffective disorder, manic type" not the answer?

Schizoaffective disorder has clear consciousness and orientation.

Why is "Alcohol withdrawal delirium" not the answer?

Alcohol withdrawal is excluded by the history, and the manic syndrome is not explained by it.

Why is "Brief psychotic disorder" not the answer?

Brief psychotic disorder has a short course and does not fit a bipolar patient with mania and delirium.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Mood disorders: delirious mania in Psychiatry. It is a medical emergency that responds well to benzodiazepines and ECT. Disorientation and fluctuating awareness separate it from uncomplicated mania or schizoaffective illness.

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 Mood disorders: delirious mania?

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.