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Psychiatry, Written State Exam 2025 – Full Exam Review with Verified
Questions & Detailed Answers | Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
Building an effective doctor-patient relationship:
1) the first meeting has a prominent role
2) it is an essential condition that the doctor spends only the time necessary - equal to that spent with
already known patients on control visits - with the first meeting with new patients
3) attention, honest, interest and the feeling of understanding are exceptionally important in creating
trust
4) the office and clothing of the doctor should emphasize the professional superiority
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
C) only the 2nd and 4th answers are correct
D) only the 4th answer is correct
E) all of the answers are correct
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
1) the first meeting has a prominent role
2) it is an essential condition that the doctor spends only the time necessary - equal to that spent with already
known patients on control visits - with the first meeting with new patients
3) attention, honest, interest and the feeling of understanding are exceptionally important in creating trust
4) the office and clothing of the doctor should emphasize the professional superiority
EXPLANATION
the first meeting has a prominent role, plenty of time should be spent with the first visit, attention, honest
interest and the feeling of understanding are exceptionally important in creating trust, while emphasizing the
asymmetry might alienate the patient
Some technical elements of the psychiatric clinical interview are:
1) comments instead of questions
2) paraphrasing the last sentence
3) short summarization for better understanding and to create the feeling of being understood
4) positive and hopeful atmosphere - like at any doctor-patient meeting
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
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B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
C) only the 2nd and 4th answers are correct
D) only the 4th answer is correct
E) all of the answers are correct
E) all of the answers are correct
1) comments instead of questions
2) paraphrasing the last sentence
3) short summarisation for better understanding and to create the feeling of being understood
4) positive and hopeful atmosphere - like at any doctor-patient meeting
EXPLANATION
Technical elements of the psychiatric interview for steering the conversation are (amongst others) paraphrasing
the last sentences, comments instead of questions and short summarizations. Giving hope and creating a
positive atmosphere is essential in doctor-patient interactions.
Agitation means excessive motor or verbal activity, which manifests in:
1) hyperactivity
2) exaggerated expression of suffering
3) yelling, screaming and verbal abuses
4) provocation, threatening gestures and physical destruction
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
C) only the 2nd and 4th answers are correct
D) only the 4th answer is correct
E) all of the answers are correct
E) all of the answers are correct
1) hyperactivity
2) exaggerated expression of suffering
3) yelling, screaming and verbal abuses
4) provocation, threatening gestures and physical destruction
EXPLANATION
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hyperactivity is a basic sign of agitation and it often comes with the exaggerated expression of suffering,
yelling, screaming, verbal abuses, provocation, threatening gestures or physical destruction.
Priority interventions during the emergency service of agitated patients include:
1) empathetic, non-oppositional, calm but confident and consequent verbal intervention
2) demonstration of power
3) patient and consequent helping attitude, offering food, drink and other forms of help
4) voluntary and/or emergency medical treatment
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
C) only the 2nd and 4th answers are correct
D) only the 4th answer is correct
E) all of the answers are correct
E) all of the answers are correct
1) empathetic, non-oppositional, calm but confident and consequent verbal intervention
2) demonstration of power
3) patient and consequent helping attitude, offering food, drink and other forms of help
4) voluntary and/or emergency medical treatment
EXPLANATION
During the emergency service of agitated patients it is advisable to implement empathetic, non-oppositional,
calm but confident and consequent verbal intervention. It is often useful to offer help in the form of food, drink
or other aids and to conduct simple examinations. The calm, patient, understanding, confident and consequent
verbal intervention is a key factor in such situations. In the case of extreme agitation the demonstration of
power by summoning the available staff in itself prevents the escalation of the situation. Emergency medication
might be necessary, but it is easier if the patient accepts one of the offered options.
True statements regarding the epidemiology of dementias:
1) Affects app. 10% of people over the age of 65.
2) Affects 30-50% of people over the age of 85.
3) Alzheimer's disease causes 50-60% of all dementia cases.
4) The frequency of dementias decreases with age.
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
, 4|Page
C) only the 2nd and 4th answers are correct
D) only the 4th answer is correct
E) all of the answers are correct
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
1) Affects app. 10% of people over the age of 65.
2) Affects 30-50% of people over the age of 85.
3) Alzheimer's disease causes 50-60% of all dementia cases.
4) The frequency of dementias decreases with age
EXPLANATION
The frequency of dementias increases with age.
True statements regarding the epidemiology of schizophrenia:
1) Lifetime prevalence is around 1%.
2) Onset in males occurs typically between the ages of 15 and 25 years.
3) Onset in females occurs typically between the ages of 25 and 35 years.
4) Besides smoking, the most prevalent comorbid disorder is alcohol dependence.
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
C) only the 2nd and 4th answers are correct
D) only the 4th answer is correct
E) all of the answers are correct
E) all of the answers are correct
1) Lifetime prevalence is around 1%.
2) Onset in males occurs typically between the ages of 15 and 25 years.
3) Onset in females occurs typically between the ages of 25 and 35 years.
4) Besides smoking, the most prevalent comorbid disorder is alcohol dependence.
True statements regarding the epidemiology of anxiety disorders:
1) Lifetime prevalence of panic attacks in mental disorders other than panic disorder is app. 10%.
2) Agoraphobia is more common in females.
3) Social phobia is the most common type of phobias.
Psychiatry, Written State Exam 2025 – Full Exam Review with Verified
Questions & Detailed Answers | Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
Building an effective doctor-patient relationship:
1) the first meeting has a prominent role
2) it is an essential condition that the doctor spends only the time necessary - equal to that spent with
already known patients on control visits - with the first meeting with new patients
3) attention, honest, interest and the feeling of understanding are exceptionally important in creating
trust
4) the office and clothing of the doctor should emphasize the professional superiority
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
C) only the 2nd and 4th answers are correct
D) only the 4th answer is correct
E) all of the answers are correct
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
1) the first meeting has a prominent role
2) it is an essential condition that the doctor spends only the time necessary - equal to that spent with already
known patients on control visits - with the first meeting with new patients
3) attention, honest, interest and the feeling of understanding are exceptionally important in creating trust
4) the office and clothing of the doctor should emphasize the professional superiority
EXPLANATION
the first meeting has a prominent role, plenty of time should be spent with the first visit, attention, honest
interest and the feeling of understanding are exceptionally important in creating trust, while emphasizing the
asymmetry might alienate the patient
Some technical elements of the psychiatric clinical interview are:
1) comments instead of questions
2) paraphrasing the last sentence
3) short summarization for better understanding and to create the feeling of being understood
4) positive and hopeful atmosphere - like at any doctor-patient meeting
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
,2|Page
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
C) only the 2nd and 4th answers are correct
D) only the 4th answer is correct
E) all of the answers are correct
E) all of the answers are correct
1) comments instead of questions
2) paraphrasing the last sentence
3) short summarisation for better understanding and to create the feeling of being understood
4) positive and hopeful atmosphere - like at any doctor-patient meeting
EXPLANATION
Technical elements of the psychiatric interview for steering the conversation are (amongst others) paraphrasing
the last sentences, comments instead of questions and short summarizations. Giving hope and creating a
positive atmosphere is essential in doctor-patient interactions.
Agitation means excessive motor or verbal activity, which manifests in:
1) hyperactivity
2) exaggerated expression of suffering
3) yelling, screaming and verbal abuses
4) provocation, threatening gestures and physical destruction
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
C) only the 2nd and 4th answers are correct
D) only the 4th answer is correct
E) all of the answers are correct
E) all of the answers are correct
1) hyperactivity
2) exaggerated expression of suffering
3) yelling, screaming and verbal abuses
4) provocation, threatening gestures and physical destruction
EXPLANATION
,3|Page
hyperactivity is a basic sign of agitation and it often comes with the exaggerated expression of suffering,
yelling, screaming, verbal abuses, provocation, threatening gestures or physical destruction.
Priority interventions during the emergency service of agitated patients include:
1) empathetic, non-oppositional, calm but confident and consequent verbal intervention
2) demonstration of power
3) patient and consequent helping attitude, offering food, drink and other forms of help
4) voluntary and/or emergency medical treatment
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
C) only the 2nd and 4th answers are correct
D) only the 4th answer is correct
E) all of the answers are correct
E) all of the answers are correct
1) empathetic, non-oppositional, calm but confident and consequent verbal intervention
2) demonstration of power
3) patient and consequent helping attitude, offering food, drink and other forms of help
4) voluntary and/or emergency medical treatment
EXPLANATION
During the emergency service of agitated patients it is advisable to implement empathetic, non-oppositional,
calm but confident and consequent verbal intervention. It is often useful to offer help in the form of food, drink
or other aids and to conduct simple examinations. The calm, patient, understanding, confident and consequent
verbal intervention is a key factor in such situations. In the case of extreme agitation the demonstration of
power by summoning the available staff in itself prevents the escalation of the situation. Emergency medication
might be necessary, but it is easier if the patient accepts one of the offered options.
True statements regarding the epidemiology of dementias:
1) Affects app. 10% of people over the age of 65.
2) Affects 30-50% of people over the age of 85.
3) Alzheimer's disease causes 50-60% of all dementia cases.
4) The frequency of dementias decreases with age.
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
, 4|Page
C) only the 2nd and 4th answers are correct
D) only the 4th answer is correct
E) all of the answers are correct
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
1) Affects app. 10% of people over the age of 65.
2) Affects 30-50% of people over the age of 85.
3) Alzheimer's disease causes 50-60% of all dementia cases.
4) The frequency of dementias decreases with age
EXPLANATION
The frequency of dementias increases with age.
True statements regarding the epidemiology of schizophrenia:
1) Lifetime prevalence is around 1%.
2) Onset in males occurs typically between the ages of 15 and 25 years.
3) Onset in females occurs typically between the ages of 25 and 35 years.
4) Besides smoking, the most prevalent comorbid disorder is alcohol dependence.
A) only the 1st, 2nd and 3rd answers are correct
B) only the 1st and 3rd answers are correct
C) only the 2nd and 4th answers are correct
D) only the 4th answer is correct
E) all of the answers are correct
E) all of the answers are correct
1) Lifetime prevalence is around 1%.
2) Onset in males occurs typically between the ages of 15 and 25 years.
3) Onset in females occurs typically between the ages of 25 and 35 years.
4) Besides smoking, the most prevalent comorbid disorder is alcohol dependence.
True statements regarding the epidemiology of anxiety disorders:
1) Lifetime prevalence of panic attacks in mental disorders other than panic disorder is app. 10%.
2) Agoraphobia is more common in females.
3) Social phobia is the most common type of phobias.
