Kaplan & Sadock's Concise Textbook of Clinical
Psychiatry 5th Edition Test Bank: Questions
Across All Chapters (1–31) LATEST UPDATE
THIS YEAR JUST RELEASED
Chapter 1: Examination and Diagnosis of the Psychiatric Patient (Questions 1–25)
1. A 34-year-old patient is brought to the emergency department by family after expressing
suicidal ideation. The clinician must first assess which of the following?
A. Risk of harm to self or others
B. Childhood developmental history
C. Family history of diabetes
D. Preferred sleeping position
Answer: A. Risk of harm to self or others
Explanation: Safety assessment is always the first priority in psychiatric evaluation,
especially when suicidal ideation is present.
2. During a mental status examination, a patient's speech is rapid, pressured, and difficult to
interrupt. This finding is most consistent with which of the following?
A. Psychomotor retardation
B. Mania
,C. Catatonia
D. Aphasia
Answer: B. Mania
Explanation: Pressured speech is a hallmark of manic episodes and reflects increased
psychomotor activity.
3. A patient is unable to recall events that occurred during a 3-hour period after a car
accident. This is best described as which type of amnesia?
A. Retrograde amnesia
B. Anterograde amnesia
C. Dissociative amnesia
D. Functional amnesia
Answer: B. Anterograde amnesia
Explanation: Anterograde amnesia is the inability to form new memories after a traumatic
event.
4. A patient's Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score is 22/30. This score most likely
indicates which of the following?
A. Normal cognition
B. Mild cognitive impairment
,C. Moderate cognitive impairment
D. Severe cognitive impairment
Answer: B. Mild cognitive impairment
Explanation: An MMSE score of 22/30 typically indicates mild cognitive impairment, though
education and age must be considered.
5. A clinician notes that a patient's affect is flat and does not change when discussing
distressing topics. This is best described as which of the following?
A. Labile affect
B. Blunted affect
C. Inappropriate affect
D. Restricted affect
Answer: B. Blunted affect
Explanation: Blunted affect refers to a significant reduction in the intensity of emotional
expression.
6. During an interview, a patient repeatedly returns to the theme of being poisoned by
neighbors. This is best described as which of the following?
A. Perseveration
B. Circumstantiality
, C. Tangentiality
D. Thought blocking
Answer: A. Perseveration
Explanation: Perseveration is the repetition of a particular response despite the absence or
cessation of a stimulus.
7. A patient is asked to interpret the proverb "People who live in glass houses shouldn't
throw stones." The patient replies, "Because the glass will break." This response suggests
which of the following?
A. Concrete thinking
B. Abstract thinking
C. Paralogical thinking
D. Magical thinking
Answer: A. Concrete thinking
Explanation: Concrete thinking involves literal interpretation without abstraction, common in
schizophrenia and cognitive disorders.
8. Which of the following is the most important component of the psychiatric interview?
A. Diagnostic labeling
B. Establishing rapport
Psychiatry 5th Edition Test Bank: Questions
Across All Chapters (1–31) LATEST UPDATE
THIS YEAR JUST RELEASED
Chapter 1: Examination and Diagnosis of the Psychiatric Patient (Questions 1–25)
1. A 34-year-old patient is brought to the emergency department by family after expressing
suicidal ideation. The clinician must first assess which of the following?
A. Risk of harm to self or others
B. Childhood developmental history
C. Family history of diabetes
D. Preferred sleeping position
Answer: A. Risk of harm to self or others
Explanation: Safety assessment is always the first priority in psychiatric evaluation,
especially when suicidal ideation is present.
2. During a mental status examination, a patient's speech is rapid, pressured, and difficult to
interrupt. This finding is most consistent with which of the following?
A. Psychomotor retardation
B. Mania
,C. Catatonia
D. Aphasia
Answer: B. Mania
Explanation: Pressured speech is a hallmark of manic episodes and reflects increased
psychomotor activity.
3. A patient is unable to recall events that occurred during a 3-hour period after a car
accident. This is best described as which type of amnesia?
A. Retrograde amnesia
B. Anterograde amnesia
C. Dissociative amnesia
D. Functional amnesia
Answer: B. Anterograde amnesia
Explanation: Anterograde amnesia is the inability to form new memories after a traumatic
event.
4. A patient's Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score is 22/30. This score most likely
indicates which of the following?
A. Normal cognition
B. Mild cognitive impairment
,C. Moderate cognitive impairment
D. Severe cognitive impairment
Answer: B. Mild cognitive impairment
Explanation: An MMSE score of 22/30 typically indicates mild cognitive impairment, though
education and age must be considered.
5. A clinician notes that a patient's affect is flat and does not change when discussing
distressing topics. This is best described as which of the following?
A. Labile affect
B. Blunted affect
C. Inappropriate affect
D. Restricted affect
Answer: B. Blunted affect
Explanation: Blunted affect refers to a significant reduction in the intensity of emotional
expression.
6. During an interview, a patient repeatedly returns to the theme of being poisoned by
neighbors. This is best described as which of the following?
A. Perseveration
B. Circumstantiality
, C. Tangentiality
D. Thought blocking
Answer: A. Perseveration
Explanation: Perseveration is the repetition of a particular response despite the absence or
cessation of a stimulus.
7. A patient is asked to interpret the proverb "People who live in glass houses shouldn't
throw stones." The patient replies, "Because the glass will break." This response suggests
which of the following?
A. Concrete thinking
B. Abstract thinking
C. Paralogical thinking
D. Magical thinking
Answer: A. Concrete thinking
Explanation: Concrete thinking involves literal interpretation without abstraction, common in
schizophrenia and cognitive disorders.
8. Which of the following is the most important component of the psychiatric interview?
A. Diagnostic labeling
B. Establishing rapport
