ABPN ABPN Basic 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient develops muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, and elevated CK after starting an antipsychotic. What is the diagnosis?
- Serotonin syndrome
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (Correct answer)
- Malignant hyperthermia
- Tardive dyskinesia
Correct answer: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Rigidity, fever, autonomic instability, and elevated CK after antipsychotic use indicate NMS.
Question 2: Which EEG pattern is classically associated with absence seizures?
- 3-Hz spike-and-wave (Correct answer)
- Triphasic waves
- Burst suppression
- Alpha coma
Correct answer: 3-Hz spike-and-wave
Generalized 3-Hz spike-and-wave discharges are characteristic of absence seizures.
Question 3: Wernicke encephalopathy is caused by deficiency of which vitamin?
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine) (Correct answer)
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
Correct answer: Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Thiamine (B1) deficiency causes Wernicke encephalopathy, often in chronic alcohol use.
Question 4: Which antidepressant class carries the greatest risk in overdose due to cardiac and seizure effects?
- SSRIs
- Tricyclic antidepressants (Correct answer)
- SNRIs
- Bupropion alone
Correct answer: Tricyclic antidepressants
TCAs cause QRS widening, arrhythmias, and seizures, making overdose especially dangerous.
Question 5: A resting tremor, bradykinesia, and cogwheel rigidity most suggest dysfunction of which system?
- Cerebellar
- Nigrostriatal dopaminergic (Correct answer)
- Corticospinal
- Dorsal column
Correct answer: Nigrostriatal dopaminergic
Loss of nigrostriatal dopamine produces the classic parkinsonian triad.
Question 6: Which test is most useful to confirm a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis serologically?
- Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (Correct answer)
- ANA titer
- Rheumatoid factor
- Anti-dsDNA
Correct answer: Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies
Acetylcholine receptor antibodies are highly specific for myasthenia gravis.
Question 7: Which sleep stage is associated with vivid dreaming and skeletal muscle atonia?
- N1
- N2
- N3 (slow-wave)
- REM sleep (Correct answer)
Correct answer: REM sleep
REM sleep features vivid dreaming, rapid eye movements, and skeletal muscle atonia.
ABPN ABPN Basic 3
A patient develops muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, and elevated CK after starting an antipsychotic.
What is the diagnosis?