Introduction to Psychiatry — MCQs

Q: Who proposed the concept of 'la belle indifférence'?

Freud. **Explanation:** The correct answer is **Freud**. The term **'la belle indifférence'** (the beautiful indifference) was popularized by **Sigmund Freud** to describe a specific clinical feature of **Conversion Disorder** (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder). It refers to a paradoxical state where a patient shows a surprising lack of concern or anxiety regarding their severe physical symptoms (e.g., sudden paralysis or blindness), which have no organic cause and are rooted in psychological conflict. **Analysis of Options:** * **A. Seligman:** Martin Seligman is known for the theory of **'Learned Helplessness,'** which is a foundational model for understanding the etiology of Depression. * **B. Lorenz:** Konrad Lorenz was an ethologist famous for his work on **'Imprinting'** and attachment behaviors in animals. * **C. Freud (Correct):** As the father of psychoanalysis, Freud linked 'la belle indifférence' to the "primary gain" of conversion—where the physical symptom reduces the patient's internal anxiety. * **D. Bleuler:** Eugen Bleuler is renowned for naming **Schizophrenia** and defining its core symptoms, known as the **'4 As'** (Ambivalence, Autism, Affective flattening, and Association looseness). **NEET-PG High-Yield Pearls:** * **Conversion Disorder:** Now classified in DSM-5 as Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder. * **Primary Gain:** Internal relief from anxiety by converting psychological conflict into a physical symptom. * **Secondary Gain:** External benefits derived from being sick (e.g., attention, avoiding work). * **Clinical Note:** While classically associated with conversion disorder, 'la belle indifférence' is neither pathognomonic nor present in all cases; it can occasionally be seen in patients with organic brain lesions.

Practice by Chapter

History of Psychiatry

Practice Questions

Classification Systems in Psychiatry

Practice Questions

Psychiatric Assessment and Interview

Practice Questions

Mental Status Examination

Practice Questions

Psychiatric Rating Scales

Practice Questions

Formulation and Diagnosis

Practice Questions

Ethics in Psychiatry

Practice Questions

Legal Aspects of Psychiatric Practice

Practice Questions

Psychiatric Epidemiology

Practice Questions

Cultural Psychiatry

Practice Questions

Stigma and Mental Illness

Practice Questions

Public Mental Health

Practice Questions

Want unlimited practice?

Get full access to all questions, explanations, and performance tracking.

Start For Free

Scan to download app