Psychiatry Flashcards
7 cards from real SPEX practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Psychiatry flashcards as text
A 35-year-old woman presents with recurrent, intrusive thoughts about harming her infant despite having no intent to act on them. She is distressed by these thoughts. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Postpartum OCD
Postpartum OCD is characterized by ego-dystonic intrusive thoughts (often about harming the baby) without intent, causing significant distress.
Which antidepressant mechanism is most associated with serotonin syndrome when combined with linezolid?
Answer: Serotonin reuptake inhibition
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs/SNRIs) combined with linezolid (an MAO inhibitor) can precipitate serotonin syndrome due to excess serotonergic activity.
A patient on clozapine develops fever, sore throat, and a WBC of 1,800/µL. What is the immediate management?
Answer: Discontinue clozapine immediately and hospitalize
Clozapine must be stopped immediately if agranulocytosis (ANC <500) or severe leukopenia occurs, as continuing risks fatal infections.
According to DSM-5, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) requires a depressed mood for at least:
Answer: 2 years
DSM-5 requires at least 2 years of depressed mood (1 year in children/adolescents) for a diagnosis of persistent depressive disorder.
A 28-year-old man with schizophrenia develops muscle rigidity, hyperthermia (41°C), diaphoresis, and altered consciousness after starting haloperidol. Labs show elevated CPK. What is the diagnosis?
Answer: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome presents with the tetrad of hyperthermia, rigidity, autonomic instability, and altered consciousness, with elevated CPK, following antipsychotic exposure.
Which personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, occurring in a variety of contexts?
Answer: Narcissistic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder is defined by grandiosity, entitlement, need for admiration, and empathy deficits per DSM-5.
A physician is asked to evaluate a patient's capacity to consent to surgery. Which of the following is NOT one of the four legal standards for decision-making capacity?
Answer: Absence of any psychiatric diagnosis
Decision-making capacity requires understanding, appreciation, reasoning, and communication of a choice — a psychiatric diagnosis alone does not negate capacity.