NPrep
Start practising
KPSC Staff Nurse - 2016
Psychiatric Nursing
Easy

Filling up of memory spaces with a detailed false description of an event is termed as?

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2016

Explanation

  • Confabulation is a memory disorder where an individual unconsciously creates fabricated or distorted memories to fill in gaps, without the intent to deceive.
  • The person genuinely believes these made-up stories are true.
  • This symptom is a hallmark of certain neurological conditions that affect memory, such as Korsakoff syndrome (often linked to chronic alcoholism and thiamine deficiency), dementia, and traumatic brain injuries.
  • The key feature is the filling of memory voids with plausible-sounding but inaccurate information, as a way for the brain to create a coherent narrative.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Tangentiality is a disorder of the thought process, not memory. It involves straying from the topic of conversation and never returning to the original point.
  • Option B: Neologism is a disturbance in speech where a person coins new words or phrases that have meaning only to them. It does not involve creating false memories.
  • Option C: Circumstantiality is a thought process disorder characterized by providing excessive, unnecessary, and often tedious detail before eventually getting to the point. It's about an indirect thought process, not fabricating memories.

Related Visual

A flowchart differentiating disorders of memory like Confabulation from disorders of thought process like Tangentiality, Circumstantiality and speech Neologism, with brief...
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Disorders of Thought and Memory as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Identifying confabulation is a critical nursing assessment finding that points towards significant neurological or cognitive impairment, prompting further investigation for underlying causes like Korsakoff syndrome or dementia.
  • Nursing care for a patient who confabulates involves creating a safe and structured environment, using reality orientation techniques (e.g., calendars, clocks), and providing memory cues.
  • It is vital to avoid arguing or directly confronting the patient about their false memories, as this can increase anxiety and agitation. Instead, gently redirect the conversation.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, break down the question stem to its core definition: 'Filling up of memory spaces with a detailed false description.'
  • Recognize that the key concept is a disturbance in memory, specifically the creation of false content to fill gaps.
  • Systematically evaluate each option against this definition.
  • Eliminate 'Tangentiality' and 'Circumstantiality' as they describe the flow and direction of thought, not the creation of false memories.
  • Eliminate 'Neologism' as it relates to the creation of new words, a disorder of language.
  • Identify 'Confabulation' as the precise term that matches the definition of unconsciously fabricating memories to fill in gaps.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Disorders of Thought and Memory
  • Stem keywords: memory spaces, false description, event
  • Lead-in keywords: termed as

Question ID

QktisDjH3jnyEg4NeFTnXh

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 3850-3852, 3795-3797

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 50-52

Practise the full KPSC Staff Nurse - 2016

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.

Attempt this paperAttempt in the NPrep app

More Organic Brain Disorders Questions

More KPSC Staff Nurse - 2016 Questions