Mood disorders: pseudobulbar affect: 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: pseudobulbar affect

Sample item

A 66-year-old man after a stroke has sudden, uncontrollable bouts of crying that last under a minute, set off by trivial events. Between bouts he denies sadness, and sleep and appetite are normal. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Pseudobulbar affect

Pseudobulbar affect is involuntary, exaggerated laughing or crying that does not match the underlying mood, caused by lesions of corticobulbar pathways. Dextromethorphan with quinidine or an SSRI can help. Absence of persistent low mood separates it from depression.

Option by option

  • A. Manic episode

    Mania needs elevated or irritable mood with overactivity, which is absent.

  • B. Cyclothymic disorder

    Cyclothymia is a chronic fluctuation of mood over years, not brief episodes after a stroke.

  • C. Pseudobulbar affect (correct)

    Correct. Brief, disproportionate emotional outbursts without sustained mood change after a stroke.

  • D. Major depressive episode

    Major depression needs persistent low mood with neurovegetative change, which he denies.

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, Pseudobulbar affect. Pseudobulbar affect is involuntary, exaggerated laughing or crying that does not match the underlying mood, caused by lesions of corticobulbar pathways.

Why is "Manic episode" not the answer?

Mania needs elevated or irritable mood with overactivity, which is absent.

Why is "Cyclothymic disorder" not the answer?

Cyclothymia is a chronic fluctuation of mood over years, not brief episodes after a stroke.

Why is "Major depressive episode" not the answer?

Major depression needs persistent low mood with neurovegetative change, which he denies.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Mood disorders: pseudobulbar affect in Psychiatry. Dextromethorphan with quinidine or an SSRI can help. Absence of persistent low mood separates it from depression.

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: pseudobulbar affect?

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.