BCPP Study Exam Questions/Answer 2025/2026 Graded A+
A patient with panic disorder presents to the ED after falling and breaking his wrist. The
patient reports taking mirtazapine 15 mg daily and clonazepam 1 mg three times daily.
Which medication should be avoided to treat the pain?
A) Acetaminophen
B) Hydrocodone
C) Meloxicam
D) Topical lidocaine - B
According to the National Institue of Health Care Excellence treatment guidelines, which
medication is a first-line treatment option in the management of post-traumatic stress
disorder?
A) Aripiprazole
B) Prazosin
C) Selegiline
D) Venlafaxine - D
A patient with social anxiety disorder presents to the outpatient clinic for follow-up after
4 months of treatment with escitalopram 20 mg daily. The patient is still highly
symptomatic and endures most social situations with great discomfort. In addition to
CBT, which regimen should the patient be switched and given an adequate
monotherapy trial?
A) Buspirone 10 mg PO BID
B) Gabapentin 100 mg PO TID
C) Paxil 10 mg PO D
D) Zyprexa 5 mg PO D - C
A 7-year old patient with severe separation anxiety disorder is undergoing treatment
with CBT which has only slightly improved symptoms. A decision is made to start
sertraline 25 mg once daily. Which adverse effect should be monitored with this
treatment?
A) Dependence
B) Suicidality
C) Disinhibition
D) Hirsutism - B
Which is the preferred treatment option for OCD in a pregnant patient?
A) Clomipramine 25 mg PO D
B) Aripiprazole 5 mg PO D
C) Bupropion XL 150 mg PO D
D) Clonazepam 0.25 mg PO BID - A
A patient is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is about to begin eye-
movement desensitization reprocessing therapy. Which educational point should be
discussed with the patient regarding treatment options?
A) Benzodiazepines should not be used
, B) Prazosin should only be prescribed monotherapy
C) Antidepressants should be started after psychotherapy has failed
D) Antipsychotics are only for treatment reisstant avoidance symptoms - A
Panic disorder diagnostic criteria - Recurrent unforseen panic attacks with 1 or more
attacks being followed by a month or longer of at least 1 of the following: ongoing worry
about another attack or change in behavior to avoid the attack
What is agoraphobia? - Fear or anxiety in 2 or more of the following situations: public
transit, open spaces, enclosed spaces, crowds or standing in line, outside of home
alone
Cut off scores for GAD-7 - 5 (mild), 10 (moderate), 15 (severe)
What is remission on the HAM-A - 70% or better reduction in symptoms from baseline
or a score of <7
If full GAD symptoms persist after trial of SSRI/SNRI, what options are there - Trial
another SSRI or SNRI OR augment with/switch to BZD, antihistamine, buspar,
pregabalin, or SGA
Does evidence support medications, psychotherapy, or the combo to be more
efficacious in anxiety disorders - There is no evidence that one is better than the other
(in addition to combo)
How to discontinue BZDs after long-term use - 25% per week until 50% is reached, then
reduce by 1/8 every 4-7 days
Over 4-8 weeks is appropriate for most
How long to taper BZDs after >8 weeks of treatment - 2-3 weeks
How long to taper BZDs after >6 months of treatment - 4-8 weeks
How long to taper BZDs after >1 year of treatment - 2-4 months
Buspirone does not have efficacy in what patient population - Those with comorbid
depression or other anxiety disorders
A 26 year old female patient diagnosed with bipolar I disorder has been controlled on
lithium ER 450 mg twice daily for the past 3 years with no relapse in symptoms and no
adverse effects experienced. She previously failed divalproex and aripiprazole, resulting
in hospital admissions for a manic episode. She presents to the clinic today and alerts
the provider that she is currently 6 weeks pregnant. Which step should be taken to
minimize the risk of fetal abnormalities?
A) Continue lithium ER with increased serum concentration monitoring and no additional
pharmacotherapy
A patient with panic disorder presents to the ED after falling and breaking his wrist. The
patient reports taking mirtazapine 15 mg daily and clonazepam 1 mg three times daily.
Which medication should be avoided to treat the pain?
A) Acetaminophen
B) Hydrocodone
C) Meloxicam
D) Topical lidocaine - B
According to the National Institue of Health Care Excellence treatment guidelines, which
medication is a first-line treatment option in the management of post-traumatic stress
disorder?
A) Aripiprazole
B) Prazosin
C) Selegiline
D) Venlafaxine - D
A patient with social anxiety disorder presents to the outpatient clinic for follow-up after
4 months of treatment with escitalopram 20 mg daily. The patient is still highly
symptomatic and endures most social situations with great discomfort. In addition to
CBT, which regimen should the patient be switched and given an adequate
monotherapy trial?
A) Buspirone 10 mg PO BID
B) Gabapentin 100 mg PO TID
C) Paxil 10 mg PO D
D) Zyprexa 5 mg PO D - C
A 7-year old patient with severe separation anxiety disorder is undergoing treatment
with CBT which has only slightly improved symptoms. A decision is made to start
sertraline 25 mg once daily. Which adverse effect should be monitored with this
treatment?
A) Dependence
B) Suicidality
C) Disinhibition
D) Hirsutism - B
Which is the preferred treatment option for OCD in a pregnant patient?
A) Clomipramine 25 mg PO D
B) Aripiprazole 5 mg PO D
C) Bupropion XL 150 mg PO D
D) Clonazepam 0.25 mg PO BID - A
A patient is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is about to begin eye-
movement desensitization reprocessing therapy. Which educational point should be
discussed with the patient regarding treatment options?
A) Benzodiazepines should not be used
, B) Prazosin should only be prescribed monotherapy
C) Antidepressants should be started after psychotherapy has failed
D) Antipsychotics are only for treatment reisstant avoidance symptoms - A
Panic disorder diagnostic criteria - Recurrent unforseen panic attacks with 1 or more
attacks being followed by a month or longer of at least 1 of the following: ongoing worry
about another attack or change in behavior to avoid the attack
What is agoraphobia? - Fear or anxiety in 2 or more of the following situations: public
transit, open spaces, enclosed spaces, crowds or standing in line, outside of home
alone
Cut off scores for GAD-7 - 5 (mild), 10 (moderate), 15 (severe)
What is remission on the HAM-A - 70% or better reduction in symptoms from baseline
or a score of <7
If full GAD symptoms persist after trial of SSRI/SNRI, what options are there - Trial
another SSRI or SNRI OR augment with/switch to BZD, antihistamine, buspar,
pregabalin, or SGA
Does evidence support medications, psychotherapy, or the combo to be more
efficacious in anxiety disorders - There is no evidence that one is better than the other
(in addition to combo)
How to discontinue BZDs after long-term use - 25% per week until 50% is reached, then
reduce by 1/8 every 4-7 days
Over 4-8 weeks is appropriate for most
How long to taper BZDs after >8 weeks of treatment - 2-3 weeks
How long to taper BZDs after >6 months of treatment - 4-8 weeks
How long to taper BZDs after >1 year of treatment - 2-4 months
Buspirone does not have efficacy in what patient population - Those with comorbid
depression or other anxiety disorders
A 26 year old female patient diagnosed with bipolar I disorder has been controlled on
lithium ER 450 mg twice daily for the past 3 years with no relapse in symptoms and no
adverse effects experienced. She previously failed divalproex and aripiprazole, resulting
in hospital admissions for a manic episode. She presents to the clinic today and alerts
the provider that she is currently 6 weeks pregnant. Which step should be taken to
minimize the risk of fetal abnormalities?
A) Continue lithium ER with increased serum concentration monitoring and no additional
pharmacotherapy
