ABPN COMPREHENSIVE TEST BANK 2026
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
100% CORRECT
●● Wernicke's encephalopathy.
Answer: esents with the acute triad of mental confusion,
ophthalmoplegia, and gait ataxia, predominantly in alcoholic patients.
On autopsy, the neuropathologic hallmark is multiple small hemorrhages
in the periventricular gray matter, mainly around the aqueduct and the
third and fourth ventricles. MRI of the brain often reveals abnormalities
in the periaqueductal regions, bilateral mammillary bodies, and medial
thalami.
●● Sydenham's chorea.
Answer: Sydenham's chorea is a result of rheumatic fever. It is
extremely rare these days because of the widespread availability of
antistreptococcal therapy. The disorder is more frequent in girls,
generally between 5 and 15 years of age. Chorea begins insidiously over
a period of weeks and can last up to 6 months. Behavioral manifestations
can include irritability, obsessive-compulsive traits, and restlessness.
Enlargement of the basal ganglia can be noted on MRI. Symptoms are
generally self-limited, lasting up to about 6 months. Anti-basal ganglia
antibodies can be detected by Western blot testing and these antibodies
seem to account for the mechanism of the disorder. Valproic acid is a
useful therapy for the chorea.
,●● Cyclothymia.
Answer: disorder does not involve psychotic symptoms, although these
symptoms may be found in bipolar disorder. Cyclothymia is a less
severe form of bipolar with alternation between hypomania and
moderate depression. Symptoms must exist for 2 years to make the
diagnosis. It is equally common in men and women. Substance use often
coexists. The onset is usually insidious and occurs in late adolescence or
early adulthood.
●● Which one of the following is not a potential risk factor for ischemic
stroke?.
Answer: Depression is not considered a stroke risk factor. Common risk
factors for stroke include older age, male gender, low socioeconomic
status, diabetes mellitus, obesity, cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol
consumption, and family history. Other important risk factors are arterial
hypertension, prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, asymptomatic
carotid bruit, dyslipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, and oral
contraceptive use. Hereditary blood dyscrasias also elevate stroke risk,
such as protein C or S deficiency, antithrombin III deficiency, and factor
V Leiden deficiency.
●● Which one of the following symptoms is not suggestive of a carotid
territory transient ischemic attack or stroke?
A.Ataxia with vertigo
B.Aphasia
,C.Ipsilateral monocular blindness
D.Contralateral body weakness
E.Contralateral homonymous visual field defects.
Answer: Ataxia is indicative of a cerebellar lesion and the cerebellum is
perfused by the vertebrobasilar arterial system. Symptoms indicative of
a carotid territory transient ischemic attack or stroke would be transient
ipsilateral monocular blindness (amaurosis fugax), contralateral body
weakness or sensory loss, aphasia with dominant hemisphere
involvement, and contralateral homonymous visual field deficits.
Symptoms that suggest a vertebrobasilar territory stroke or transient
ischemic attack include bilateral, shifting, or crossed weakness or
sensory loss (ipsilateral face with contralateral body); bilateral or
contralateral homonymous visual field defects or binocular visual loss;
and two or more of vertigo, diplopia, dysphagia, dysarthria, and ataxia.
●● Essential tremor (ET).
Answer: Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common movement
disorders. It has been noted in up to 5% of patients over 60 years of age.
It is defined as a postural and kinetic tremor of the forearms and hands
(sometimes with other body parts) that gradually increases in amplitude
over time. ET is believed to be a monosymptomatic illness, without
other neurologic deficits. As many as two-thirds of patients have a
positive family history of ET. The disease is likely heterogeneous with
an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance.
, ●● MDD DSM 5 CRITERIA.
Answer: Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present
during the same two-week period and represent a change from previous
functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or
(2) loss of interest or pleasure.
NOTE: Do not include symptoms that are clearly attributable to another
medical condition.
Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either
subjective report (eg, feels sad, empty, hopeless) or observations made
by others (eg, appears tearful). (NOTE: In children and adolescents, can
be irritable mood.)
Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities
most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective
account or observation).
Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (eg, a change of
more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in
appetite nearly every day. (NOTE: In children, consider failure to make
expected weight gain.)
Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by
others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed
down).
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
100% CORRECT
●● Wernicke's encephalopathy.
Answer: esents with the acute triad of mental confusion,
ophthalmoplegia, and gait ataxia, predominantly in alcoholic patients.
On autopsy, the neuropathologic hallmark is multiple small hemorrhages
in the periventricular gray matter, mainly around the aqueduct and the
third and fourth ventricles. MRI of the brain often reveals abnormalities
in the periaqueductal regions, bilateral mammillary bodies, and medial
thalami.
●● Sydenham's chorea.
Answer: Sydenham's chorea is a result of rheumatic fever. It is
extremely rare these days because of the widespread availability of
antistreptococcal therapy. The disorder is more frequent in girls,
generally between 5 and 15 years of age. Chorea begins insidiously over
a period of weeks and can last up to 6 months. Behavioral manifestations
can include irritability, obsessive-compulsive traits, and restlessness.
Enlargement of the basal ganglia can be noted on MRI. Symptoms are
generally self-limited, lasting up to about 6 months. Anti-basal ganglia
antibodies can be detected by Western blot testing and these antibodies
seem to account for the mechanism of the disorder. Valproic acid is a
useful therapy for the chorea.
,●● Cyclothymia.
Answer: disorder does not involve psychotic symptoms, although these
symptoms may be found in bipolar disorder. Cyclothymia is a less
severe form of bipolar with alternation between hypomania and
moderate depression. Symptoms must exist for 2 years to make the
diagnosis. It is equally common in men and women. Substance use often
coexists. The onset is usually insidious and occurs in late adolescence or
early adulthood.
●● Which one of the following is not a potential risk factor for ischemic
stroke?.
Answer: Depression is not considered a stroke risk factor. Common risk
factors for stroke include older age, male gender, low socioeconomic
status, diabetes mellitus, obesity, cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol
consumption, and family history. Other important risk factors are arterial
hypertension, prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, asymptomatic
carotid bruit, dyslipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, and oral
contraceptive use. Hereditary blood dyscrasias also elevate stroke risk,
such as protein C or S deficiency, antithrombin III deficiency, and factor
V Leiden deficiency.
●● Which one of the following symptoms is not suggestive of a carotid
territory transient ischemic attack or stroke?
A.Ataxia with vertigo
B.Aphasia
,C.Ipsilateral monocular blindness
D.Contralateral body weakness
E.Contralateral homonymous visual field defects.
Answer: Ataxia is indicative of a cerebellar lesion and the cerebellum is
perfused by the vertebrobasilar arterial system. Symptoms indicative of
a carotid territory transient ischemic attack or stroke would be transient
ipsilateral monocular blindness (amaurosis fugax), contralateral body
weakness or sensory loss, aphasia with dominant hemisphere
involvement, and contralateral homonymous visual field deficits.
Symptoms that suggest a vertebrobasilar territory stroke or transient
ischemic attack include bilateral, shifting, or crossed weakness or
sensory loss (ipsilateral face with contralateral body); bilateral or
contralateral homonymous visual field defects or binocular visual loss;
and two or more of vertigo, diplopia, dysphagia, dysarthria, and ataxia.
●● Essential tremor (ET).
Answer: Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common movement
disorders. It has been noted in up to 5% of patients over 60 years of age.
It is defined as a postural and kinetic tremor of the forearms and hands
(sometimes with other body parts) that gradually increases in amplitude
over time. ET is believed to be a monosymptomatic illness, without
other neurologic deficits. As many as two-thirds of patients have a
positive family history of ET. The disease is likely heterogeneous with
an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance.
, ●● MDD DSM 5 CRITERIA.
Answer: Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present
during the same two-week period and represent a change from previous
functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or
(2) loss of interest or pleasure.
NOTE: Do not include symptoms that are clearly attributable to another
medical condition.
Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either
subjective report (eg, feels sad, empty, hopeless) or observations made
by others (eg, appears tearful). (NOTE: In children and adolescents, can
be irritable mood.)
Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities
most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective
account or observation).
Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (eg, a change of
more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in
appetite nearly every day. (NOTE: In children, consider failure to make
expected weight gain.)
Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by
others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed
down).
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
