Somatic disorders: neurasthenia: 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 · Somatic disorders: neurasthenia

Sample item

Persistent complaints of mental fatigue after minor effort, with muscle aches, dizziness and inability to relax, are coded in ICD-10 as

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Neurasthenia

Neurasthenia is persistent distressing fatigue after mental effort or bodily weakness after minimal effort, with muscle aches, dizziness, tension headaches, sleep disturbance and irritability. It is retained in ICD-10 though dropped from DSM. It is common in Indian clinical practice.

Option by option

  • A. Narcolepsy

    Narcolepsy is excessive sleepiness with cataplexy.

  • B. Hypochondriasis

    Hypochondriasis is preoccupation with having a serious illness.

  • C. Neurasthenia (correct)

    Correct. Fatigue with somatic complaints is neurasthenia in ICD-10.

  • D. Generalised anxiety disorder

    Generalised anxiety disorder is dominated by worry.

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, Neurasthenia. Neurasthenia is persistent distressing fatigue after mental effort or bodily weakness after minimal effort, with muscle aches, dizziness, tension headaches, sleep disturbance and irritability.

Why is "Narcolepsy" not the answer?

Narcolepsy is excessive sleepiness with cataplexy.

Why is "Hypochondriasis" not the answer?

Hypochondriasis is preoccupation with having a serious illness.

Why is "Generalised anxiety disorder" not the answer?

Generalised anxiety disorder is dominated by worry.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Somatic disorders: neurasthenia in Psychiatry. It is retained in ICD-10 though dropped from DSM. It is common in Indian clinical practice.

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 Somatic disorders: neurasthenia?

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.