Organic mental disorders: transient global amnesia: 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 mental disorders: transient global amnesia

Sample item

A 62-year-old man suddenly begins repeating the same questions about where he is and what is happening. He knows his name and recognises his wife, has no other neurological signs, and the episode resolves after 8 hours, leaving a gap in memory. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Transient global amnesia

Transient global amnesia is a sudden anterograde amnesia with repetitive questioning, preserved personal identity and no other deficits, lasting up to 24 hours and not recurring often. It is thought to result from transient hippocampal dysfunction.

Option by option

  • A. Transient global amnesia (correct)

    Correct. Self-limited anterograde amnesia with preserved identity is typical.

  • B. Wernicke encephalopathy

    Wernicke encephalopathy includes ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and confusion.

  • C. Dissociative fugue

    Dissociative fugue involves loss of personal identity and purposeful travel after stress.

  • D. Korsakoff syndrome

    Korsakoff syndrome is persistent amnesia with confabulation in chronic alcoholism.

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 A, Transient global amnesia. Transient global amnesia is a sudden anterograde amnesia with repetitive questioning, preserved personal identity and no other deficits, lasting up to 24 hours and not recurring often.

Why is "Wernicke encephalopathy" not the answer?

Wernicke encephalopathy includes ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and confusion.

Why is "Dissociative fugue" not the answer?

Dissociative fugue involves loss of personal identity and purposeful travel after stress.

Why is "Korsakoff syndrome" not the answer?

Korsakoff syndrome is persistent amnesia with confabulation in chronic alcoholism.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Organic mental disorders: transient global amnesia in Psychiatry. It is thought to result from transient hippocampal dysfunction.

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 mental disorders: transient global amnesia?

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.