Organic psychiatry: 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

Sample item

An elderly patient on a surgical ward develops acute confusion that fluctuates through the day, with visual hallucinations and disturbed sleep. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Delirium

Delirium is an acute disturbance of attention and cognition with a fluctuating course. Always look for infection, drugs, metabolic disturbance and withdrawal. Dementia is chronic and progressive.

Option by option

  • A. Major depression

    Depression does not cause a fluctuating level of consciousness.

  • B. Alzheimer dementia

    Dementia develops over months and years.

  • C. Delirium (correct)

    Correct.

  • D. Schizophrenia

    Schizophrenia does not present as an acute confusional state.

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.

More Psychiatry questions

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Delirium. Delirium is an acute disturbance of attention and cognition with a fluctuating course.

Why is "Major depression" not the answer?

Depression does not cause a fluctuating level of consciousness.

Why is "Alzheimer dementia" not the answer?

Dementia develops over months and years.

Why is "Schizophrenia" not the answer?

Schizophrenia does not present as an acute confusional state.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Organic psychiatry in Psychiatry. Always look for infection, drugs, metabolic disturbance and withdrawal. Dementia is chronic and progressive.

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?

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.