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Take the Psychiatry Knowledge Assessment Quiz

Challenge Your Psychiatric Skills in This Quiz

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting elements related to Psychiatry Knowledge Assessment Quiz.

Embark on a comprehensive psychiatry quiz designed to sharpen your diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills. Whether you're a student or a seasoned practitioner, this knowledge assessment offers real-world case scenarios and evidence-based questions to elevate your understanding. Feel free to customize this quiz in our editor, tailoring questions and formats to suit your learning goals. Explore related Clinical Psychiatry Knowledge Quiz, Substance Use Testing and Forensic Psychiatry Knowledge Quiz, or discover more quizzes for further practice.

According to DSM-5, how many symptoms are required to diagnose Major Depressive Disorder?
Five symptoms
Two symptoms
Seven symptoms
Three symptoms
DSM-5 specifies that at least five of the nine diagnostic criteria must be present for a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder. This threshold distinguishes clinically significant depression from less severe mood disturbances.
What is the minimum duration of symptoms required for a diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
3 months
1 month
12 months
6 months
DSM-5 criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder require symptoms to be present for at least six months. This duration criterion helps differentiate GAD from transient or situational anxiety.
Which class of medication is considered first-line pharmacotherapy for Major Depressive Disorder?
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Benzodiazepines
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
SSRIs are typically first-line for Major Depressive Disorder due to their favorable safety and side effect profile. They are recommended by most guidelines ahead of TCAs or MAOIs.
What is the minimum duration of continuous symptoms required to diagnose Schizophrenia according to DSM-5?
6 months
1 month
3 months
12 months
DSM-5 requires at least six months of disturbance, including one month of active-phase symptoms, for a schizophrenia diagnosis. This distinguishes it from shorter psychotic disorders.
Which ethical principle is described by the obligation to tell the truth to patients?
Beneficence
Autonomy
Justice
Veracity
Veracity refers to the ethical duty of truth-telling in patient care. It underpins informed consent and fosters trust in the therapeutic relationship.
A 45-year-old man presents with two weeks of depressed mood, anhedonia, insomnia, weight loss, and suicidal ideation. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Adjustment Disorder
Cyclothymic Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
The presence of five or more depressive symptoms for at least two weeks meets DSM-5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder. Persistent Depressive Disorder requires a longer duration of symptoms (two years).
Which psychotherapeutic approach is evidence-based and considered first-line for moderate Major Depressive Disorder?
Hydrotherapy
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Unstructured supportive therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a first-line psychotherapeutic treatment for moderate depression supported by strong evidence. It targets negative thought patterns and behavioral activation.
Which SSRI is most commonly associated with sexual dysfunction?
Paroxetine
Citalopram
Fluoxetine
Sertraline
Paroxetine has the highest risk of sexual side effects among SSRIs due to its strong serotonergic activity. Other SSRIs also carry risk but generally to a lesser degree.
Long-term lithium therapy is most commonly associated with which endocrine abnormality?
Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Addison's disease
Cushing's syndrome
Lithium can impair thyroid function and commonly leads to hypothyroidism over time. Monitoring of thyroid function tests is recommended during lithium therapy.
Which feature best distinguishes delirium from dementia?
Acute onset with fluctuating course
Slow, progressive memory loss
Consistent level of consciousness
Predominant long-term memory impairment
Delirium has an acute onset and often fluctuates in severity over hours or days. Dementia has a gradual onset and steady decline without fluctuation in consciousness.
A patient with three months of hallucinations, disorganized speech, and social withdrawal but less than six months of total symptoms is most consistent with which diagnosis?
Schizophreniform Disorder
Schizoaffective Disorder
Brief Psychotic Disorder
Schizophrenia
Schizophreniform Disorder is diagnosed when psychotic symptoms last between one and six months. Schizophrenia requires at least six months.
Which antipsychotic medication requires regular white blood cell monitoring due to risk of agranulocytosis?
Olanzapine
Risperidone
Haloperidol
Clozapine
Clozapine carries a significant risk of agranulocytosis, so mandatory blood count monitoring is required. Other antipsychotics do not have this level of risk.
Which treatment is indicated for treatment-resistant severe major depression with psychotic features?
Transference-focused psychotherapy
Electroconvulsive Therapy
High-dose SSRIs
Light therapy
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is effective for severe, treatment-resistant depression, especially with psychotic features. It yields high remission rates in this population.
Under which circumstance can a clinician ethically breach patient confidentiality?
At the patient's request to withhold information
To discuss the case with colleagues without identifiers
Duty to warn a potential victim of harm
For routine billing purposes
The Tarasoff duty to warn allows clinicians to breach confidentiality when a patient poses a serious risk to an identifiable victim. Routine billing or patient requests do not override confidentiality ethics.
Which pharmacological agent is considered first-line for panic disorder?
Beta-blockers
Tricyclic antidepressants
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Benzodiazepines alone
SSRIs are first-line pharmacotherapy for panic disorder given their efficacy and tolerability. Benzodiazepines are adjunctive but not first-line due to dependence risk.
A patient presents with four days of elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, increased goal-directed activity, and no severe impairment. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Cyclothymic Disorder
Bipolar I Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder
Bipolar II Disorder
Hypomanic episodes lasting at least four days without severe impairment or psychosis define Bipolar II Disorder. Bipolar I requires full manic episodes with marked impairment.
Which antipsychotic has the highest risk of metabolic syndrome?
Aripiprazole
Ziprasidone
Olanzapine
Risperidone
Olanzapine is associated with significant weight gain, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, leading to high metabolic risk. Other agents have lower rates of these side effects.
What is the primary mechanism of action of valproate in the treatment of bipolar disorder?
Inhibits monoamine oxidase
Antagonizes NMDA receptors
Increases GABAergic transmission
Blocks dopamine D2 receptors
Valproate enhances GABA levels, exerting an inhibitory effect on neuronal excitability. This mechanism underlies its mood-stabilizing properties in bipolar disorder.
Which element is essential for valid informed consent in psychiatric treatment?
Guarantee of a successful outcome
A signed consent from a family member
Disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives
Complete absence of any side effects
Valid informed consent requires explaining the risks, benefits, and available alternatives of any intervention. It does not guarantee outcomes and must come from the patient rather than a third party.
Which criterion differentiates schizoaffective disorder from a mood disorder with psychotic features?
Onset after age 50
Psychotic symptoms for ≥2 weeks without mood episodes
Concurrent mood and psychotic symptoms
Presence of only negative symptoms
Schizoaffective disorder requires a period of at least two weeks of psychosis without prominent mood symptoms. Mood disorders with psychotic features have psychosis only during mood episodes.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify key diagnostic criteria for common psychiatric disorders.
  2. Analyse case vignettes to determine accurate psychiatric diagnoses.
  3. Evaluate pharmacological and therapeutic treatment options effectively.
  4. Apply evidence-based principles in prescribing psychotropic medications.
  5. Demonstrate understanding of ethical considerations in mental health care.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master the DSM-5 Criteria - Master the DSM-5 criteria to confidently identify key psychiatric disorders. Understanding these symptoms helps you make accurate, standardized diagnoses every time. OpenStax: DSM-5 Criteria and Use
  2. Practice with Case Vignettes - Dive into realistic case stories to sharpen your diagnostic instincts. These bite-sized scenarios boost your confidence in applying DSM-5 rules. OpenStax: Case Vignette Practice
  3. Explore Pharmacological Treatments - Learn how antidepressants and antipsychotics work, when to use them, and what side effects may pop up. This knowledge builds your confidence in creating safe medication plans. Harrison's Manual: Major Psychiatric Disorders
  4. Dive into Therapeutic Options - Get to know CBT, ECT, and other therapies to see how they reshape thought patterns and boost mood. Comparing methods helps you pick the best match for each patient. Harrison's Manual: Therapy Techniques
  5. Prescribe Safely and Effectively - Grasp the evidence-based principles for psychotropic prescriptions to fine-tune dosages and avoid interactions. This ensures every treatment plan is both safe and personalized. Harrison's Manual: Safe Prescribing
  6. Ethical Foundations in Psychiatry - Review confidentiality, informed consent, and patient rights to practice with integrity. Strong ethics build trust and improve care outcomes. OpenStax: Ethics in Mental Health
  7. Differentiate Mood Disorders - Study the hallmarks of depression versus bipolar disorder so you can spot their unique patterns. This clarity sharpens your diagnostic toolkit. Harrison's Manual: Mood Disorders
  8. Utilize the SCID Tool - Familiarize yourself with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM to guide thorough assessments. This interactive format helps you cover every diagnostic angle. Wikipedia: SCID Overview
  9. Investigate Treatment-Resistant Depression - Learn about TMS and other cutting-edge therapies when standard antidepressants fall short. Exploring alternatives expands your treatment arsenal. Wikipedia: Treatment-Resistant Depression
  10. Trace the Feighner Criteria Legacy - Discover the historic Feighner Criteria that paved the way for modern psychiatric definitions. Appreciating its impact deepens your understanding of diagnostic evolution. Wikipedia: Feighner Criteria
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