BCPP Exam Questions and Answers
Graded A+
What is the GAD7? - Correct answer-Patient self rated screener for anxiety (doesn't
measure tx response)
What are GAD7 cutoffs? - Correct answer-5= mild
10= moderate
15= severe
What is the HAM A? - Correct answer-Clinician rated anxiety scale
Measures tx response
What are HAM A cutoffs? - Correct answer-Mild: 0-17
Mod: 18-24
Severe: 25-30
Remission: 70% imp
Improved: 50% imp
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,Partial: 25-49%
Starting dose of sertraline in elderly and children? - Correct answer-12.5-25 mg
Starting dose of venlafaxine in children and elderly? - Correct answer-37.5 mg
How should BZDs be discontinued? - Correct answer-25% reduction per week
until 50% of dose is reached, then reduce by 1/8 every 4-7 days
Therapy > 8 weeks: 2-3 weeks
Therapy > 6 months: 4-8 weeks
Therapy > 1 year: slow taper over 2-4 months
What is the DI between omeprazole and diazepam? - Correct answer-Omeprazole
increases half life and concentration of diazepam
Which SGAs can be used as augmenting agents in GAD? - Correct answer-
Olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone. Quetiapine XR can be used as early as 2nd
line
What are first line treatments for panic disorder - Correct answer-CBT: evidence
does NOT show superiority of pharm over non-pharm
SSRI
Venlafaxine
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,BZD
Clomipramine, imipramine
2nd line: mirtazepine
Can consider sga augmentation or MAOI after failure of ssri, Snri, and tca
What are first line treatments for ptsd - Correct answer-Trauma focused
psychotherapy: exposure based, emdr, anxiety management or cbt. Emphasized in
recent guidelines.
SSRI: paroxetine, sertraline and fluoxetine have strong evidence
Venlafaxine
Consider alternative agents or augmentation after 3 failed trials: Tcas, mirtazepine,
phenelzine, AEDs
NO BZDs or SGAs
What is the YBOCS? - Correct answer-Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive scale
Clinician rated
Used for diagnosis and to assess response
How is the YBOCS interpreted? - Correct answer-0-7 sub clinical
8-15 mild
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, 16-23 moderate
24-31 severe
32-40 very severe
Response: 25%
Remission: score <8
What are first line treatments for OCD? - Correct answer-CBT or SSRI. CBT +
pharmacotherapy not better than CBT alone, but is better than pharmacotherapy
alone.
2nd line: venlafaxine XR, clomipramine, mirtazepine. Clomipramine may be more
effective, but less tolerated.
Adjunctive: aripiprazole, risperidone *esp in pts with tics!
How should SSRIs be dosed in OCD? - Correct answer-Dose higher than usual
At least 12 weeks needed for response
How long to continue pharmacotherapy in OCD? - Correct answer-1-2 years. Life
long after 2-4 relapses.
How are SGAs used in OCD? - Correct answer-Augmentation, hapiperidol or
aripiprazole or risperidone, after failing 2 antidepressants.
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Graded A+
What is the GAD7? - Correct answer-Patient self rated screener for anxiety (doesn't
measure tx response)
What are GAD7 cutoffs? - Correct answer-5= mild
10= moderate
15= severe
What is the HAM A? - Correct answer-Clinician rated anxiety scale
Measures tx response
What are HAM A cutoffs? - Correct answer-Mild: 0-17
Mod: 18-24
Severe: 25-30
Remission: 70% imp
Improved: 50% imp
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Partial: 25-49%
Starting dose of sertraline in elderly and children? - Correct answer-12.5-25 mg
Starting dose of venlafaxine in children and elderly? - Correct answer-37.5 mg
How should BZDs be discontinued? - Correct answer-25% reduction per week
until 50% of dose is reached, then reduce by 1/8 every 4-7 days
Therapy > 8 weeks: 2-3 weeks
Therapy > 6 months: 4-8 weeks
Therapy > 1 year: slow taper over 2-4 months
What is the DI between omeprazole and diazepam? - Correct answer-Omeprazole
increases half life and concentration of diazepam
Which SGAs can be used as augmenting agents in GAD? - Correct answer-
Olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone. Quetiapine XR can be used as early as 2nd
line
What are first line treatments for panic disorder - Correct answer-CBT: evidence
does NOT show superiority of pharm over non-pharm
SSRI
Venlafaxine
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,BZD
Clomipramine, imipramine
2nd line: mirtazepine
Can consider sga augmentation or MAOI after failure of ssri, Snri, and tca
What are first line treatments for ptsd - Correct answer-Trauma focused
psychotherapy: exposure based, emdr, anxiety management or cbt. Emphasized in
recent guidelines.
SSRI: paroxetine, sertraline and fluoxetine have strong evidence
Venlafaxine
Consider alternative agents or augmentation after 3 failed trials: Tcas, mirtazepine,
phenelzine, AEDs
NO BZDs or SGAs
What is the YBOCS? - Correct answer-Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive scale
Clinician rated
Used for diagnosis and to assess response
How is the YBOCS interpreted? - Correct answer-0-7 sub clinical
8-15 mild
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, 16-23 moderate
24-31 severe
32-40 very severe
Response: 25%
Remission: score <8
What are first line treatments for OCD? - Correct answer-CBT or SSRI. CBT +
pharmacotherapy not better than CBT alone, but is better than pharmacotherapy
alone.
2nd line: venlafaxine XR, clomipramine, mirtazepine. Clomipramine may be more
effective, but less tolerated.
Adjunctive: aripiprazole, risperidone *esp in pts with tics!
How should SSRIs be dosed in OCD? - Correct answer-Dose higher than usual
At least 12 weeks needed for response
How long to continue pharmacotherapy in OCD? - Correct answer-1-2 years. Life
long after 2-4 relapses.
How are SGAs used in OCD? - Correct answer-Augmentation, hapiperidol or
aripiprazole or risperidone, after failing 2 antidepressants.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
