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Common Psychiatric Disorders Flashcards

7 cards from real MCCQE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Common Psychiatric Disorders flashcards as text

  1. A 55-year-old man with schizophrenia requires clozapine due to treatment resistance. What mandatory monitoring is required due to clozapine's most dangerous adverse effect?

    Answer: Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) monitoring per registry protocol

    Clozapine carries a risk of potentially fatal agranulocytosis, requiring mandatory ANC monitoring through a national registry (e.g., weekly for 26 weeks, then biweekly).

  2. A 33-year-old woman presents with 2 years of hypomanic episodes (lasting 4+ days) alternating with depressive episodes, never meeting full criteria for mania or major depression. What is the diagnosis?

    Answer: Cyclothymic disorder

    Cyclothymic disorder requires at least 2 years of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that never meet full criteria for a hypomanic or major depressive episode.

  3. A 65-year-old man develops confusion, agitation, and disorientation 2 days after hip replacement surgery. He has fluctuating consciousness and is worse at night. What is the most likely diagnosis?

    Answer: Postoperative delirium

    Postoperative delirium is common in elderly patients, characterized by acute onset, fluctuating consciousness, and disorientation, often precipitated by surgery, anesthesia, and pain medications.

  4. A 24-year-old woman presents with periods of depressed mood for 2 weeks every month beginning a week before menstruation and resolving within a few days of its onset, with significant functional impairment. What is the diagnosis?

    Answer: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

    PMDD is distinguished from PMS by marked functional impairment and mood symptoms (not just physical) confirmed prospectively across at least two cycles.

  5. A 45-year-old woman with moderate depression and comorbid chronic pain is seeking pharmacotherapy that addresses both conditions. Which antidepressant class is most appropriate?

    Answer: SNRI (e.g., duloxetine)

    SNRIs such as duloxetine have evidence for both depression and neuropathic/chronic pain through noradrenergic and serotonergic mechanisms.

  6. A 17-year-old boy presents with a 9-month history of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in multiple settings since early childhood, causing academic failure. After diagnosis of ADHD, what is first-line pharmacotherapy in Canada?

    Answer: Stimulant medication (methylphenidate or amphetamine)

    Stimulant medications (methylphenidate or mixed amphetamine salts) are first-line pharmacotherapy for ADHD across all age groups in Canadian guidelines.

  7. A 52-year-old woman presents with a fixed, unshakeable belief that her intestines have rotted away, despite normal investigations. She is otherwise alert and oriented. What is this symptom called, and in what condition is it classically seen?

    Answer: Cotard's delusion (nihilistic delusion) in severe depression with psychotic features

    Cotard's delusion (nihilistic delusion of body decay or non-existence) is classically associated with severe psychotic depression.