American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Flashcards

Which demyelinating disease shows oligoclonal bands in the CSF and periventricular white-matter lesions?

Answer: Multiple sclerosis

MS produces CNS demyelination with CSF oligoclonal bands and MRI white-matter plaques.

Fluctuating muscle weakness that worsens with activity and improves with rest suggests:

Answer: Myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis causes fatigable weakness from acetylcholine receptor antibodies.

Which is a first-line treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Answer: SSRIs with exposure and response prevention

OCD is treated with SSRIs (often high-dose) combined with ERP therapy.

Broca aphasia is best characterized by:

Answer: Nonfluent speech with preserved comprehension

Broca (expressive) aphasia features effortful, nonfluent speech with intact comprehension.

Which side effect is most specifically associated with valproate use in pregnancy?

Answer: Neural tube defects

Valproate carries a high risk of neural tube defects and should be avoided in pregnancy.

The most common cause of dementia in older adults is:

Answer: Alzheimer disease

Alzheimer disease is the leading cause of dementia, marked by amyloid plaques and tau tangles.

Serotonin syndrome is best distinguished from NMS by the presence of:

Answer: Hyperreflexia and clonus

Serotonin syndrome features hyperreflexia, clonus, and rapid onset, unlike the rigidity of NMS.