Anxiety and related disorders: pseudocyesis: 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 · Anxiety and related disorders: pseudocyesis

Sample item

A 40-year-old woman desperate for a child has amenorrhoea, abdominal distension, breast enlargement and morning nausea, and firmly believes she is pregnant. Urine hCG is negative and ultrasound shows an empty uterus. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Pseudocyesis

Pseudocyesis, or false pregnancy, is a somatic symptom presentation with a firm belief in being pregnant and real physical signs such as amenorrhoea, abdominal enlargement and breast changes, but without a fetus. It is linked to intense desire for or fear of pregnancy.

Option by option

  • A. Factitious disorder

    Factitious disorder involves deliberately feigned illness, not a sincere belief with genuine bodily changes.

  • B. Couvade syndrome

    Couvade syndrome affects the partner of a pregnant woman, who develops pregnancy-like symptoms.

  • C. Delusional parasitosis

    Delusional parasitosis is a fixed belief in infestation by organisms, which does not apply here.

  • D. Pseudocyesis (correct)

    Correct. A firm belief in pregnancy with objective signs but no fetus is pseudocyesis.

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 D, Pseudocyesis. Pseudocyesis, or false pregnancy, is a somatic symptom presentation with a firm belief in being pregnant and real physical signs such as amenorrhoea, abdominal enlargement and breast changes, but without a fetus.

Why is "Factitious disorder" not the answer?

Factitious disorder involves deliberately feigned illness, not a sincere belief with genuine bodily changes.

Why is "Couvade syndrome" not the answer?

Couvade syndrome affects the partner of a pregnant woman, who develops pregnancy-like symptoms.

Why is "Delusional parasitosis" not the answer?

Delusional parasitosis is a fixed belief in infestation by organisms, which does not apply here.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Anxiety and related disorders: pseudocyesis in Psychiatry. It is linked to intense desire for or fear of pregnancy.

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 Anxiety and related disorders: pseudocyesis?

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.