Conceptual Actual Emended Exam Questions
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Q1. The first step in making a psychiatric differential diagnosis is:
A. Ordering laboratory tests
B. Ruling out malingering or factitious disorder
C. Prescribing an antidepressant
D. Conducting a full neuroimaging scan
Answer: B
Rationale: DSM-5-TR emphasizes ruling out malingering/factitious disorders
before considering psychiatric diagnoses.
Q2. A 45-year-old patient presents with new-onset depression. Which lab test is
most important to rule out a medical cause?
A. Liver function tests
B. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
C. Serum cortisol
D. Blood urea nitrogen
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypothyroidism can mimic depressive symptoms; TSH is an essential
screening tool.
Q3. Which of the following is not a common medical mimic of anxiety disorders?
A. Hyperthyroidism
B. Arrhythmia
,C. Asthma
D. Appendicitis
Answer: D
Rationale: Appendicitis causes acute abdominal pain, not chronic anxiety
symptoms.
Q4. When creating a differential diagnosis, the clinician’s initial hypothesis is best
described as:
A. A confirmed diagnosis
B. A working list of possible causes of the presenting complaint
C. The patient’s own explanation of symptoms
D. The outcome of diagnostic testing
Answer: B
Rationale: The initial hypothesis is a working list of potential psychiatric and
medical conditions that explain the complaint.
Q5. A 70-year-old presents with memory problems. To distinguish between
depression and early dementia, the most useful screening tool is:
A. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
B. PHQ-9
C. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
D. CAGE questionnaire
Answer: C
Rationale: The MMSE is a cognitive screening tool to assess for dementia.
Q6. During psychiatric history taking, which question best assesses history of
present illness?
A. “Do you have a family history of mental illness?”
B. “How long have you been experiencing these symptoms?”
,C. “What medications are you currently taking?”
D. “Where do you live and with whom?”
Answer: B
Rationale: Duration of symptoms is essential to determine whether diagnostic
criteria are met.
Q7. Which component of psychiatric history specifically addresses risk of
recurrence or genetic predisposition?
A. Social history
B. Family psychiatric history
C. Medical history
D. Developmental history
Answer: B
Rationale: Family psychiatric history assesses heritability and risk of mental
disorders.
Q8. When asking about developmental history in an adult, the provider should
focus on:
A. School performance, childhood trauma, and peer relationships
B. Current lab results
C. Past medication adherence
D. Recent dietary habits
Answer: A
Rationale: Developmental history provides context for long-term psychosocial
functioning.
Q9. A patient reports persistent sadness and loss of interest. Which question is
most helpful to assess impact on functioning?
A. “What do you do for fun?”
, B. “How are these feelings affecting your work or relationships?”
C. “Do you sleep well at night?”
D. “Do you take any supplements?”
Answer: B
Rationale: Functional impact is a key DSM-5-TR criterion for diagnosing psychiatric
disorders.
Q10. Which area of the psychiatric history is most important when evaluating risk
for suicide?
A. Current medications
B. Family psychiatric history
C. Past psychiatric history
D. History of present illness
Answer: C
Rationale: A history of previous suicide attempts is the strongest predictor of
future suicide risk.
Q11. Which screening tool is validated for adolescent suicide risk assessment?
A. ASQ (Ask Suicide-Screening Questions)
B. MMSE
C. CAGE
D. GAD-7
Answer: A
Rationale: The ASQ is an evidence-based screening tool for suicide risk in youth.
Q12. A patient screens positive on the ASQ for suicidal ideation but denies current
intent. The most appropriate next step is:
A. No further action needed
B. Provide a brief suicide safety assessment