PLAB (Psychiatry) Sample Questions Set-16
Categories: U.K. PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board)
Question. A 17 year old girl who was ‘fine’ until her boyfriend ended their relationship. Out of anger, she took 10 tablets of paracetamol after drinking alcohol. She is brought into A&E by her mother. What is the SINGLE most appropriate next course of action?
A. Refer to psychiatry
B. Liver transplant
C. Refer to GP
D. Discharge home. No referral needed
E. Start N-acetylcysteine
Answer: (a) [Referral to psychiatric team would be the most accurate option here. Acute alcohol consumption is an inhibitor of the P-450 enzyme system. Since she has consumed alcohol acutely, the risk of fatal effects of paracetamol poisoning would be reduced. Not to mention that 10 tablets of paracetamol in a 17 year old is not life threatening. Shedoes however need a psychiatric evaluation before she leaves the hospital as she was clearly trying to harm herself.]
Question. A 36 year old woman was recently admitted to a psychiatric ward. She believes that the staff and other patients know exactly what she is thinking all the time. What is the SINGLE most likely phenomenon?
A. Thought insertion
B. Thought withdrawal
C. Thought block
D. Thought broadcasting
E. Hallucination
Answer: (d) [Thought broadcasting is the delusional belief that one’s thoughts are accessible directly to others. It is found in schizophrenia]
Question. A 37 year old woman who delivered 3 days ago is now concerned about her mood. She has trouble sleeping and feels generally anxious and tearful. She is unable to explain why she is crying all the time. She has no history of mental health disorders in the past. What is the SINGLE most appropriate management?
A. Citalopram
B. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
C. Fluoxetine
D. Reassurance
E. Admit mother to mother and baby unit
Answer: (d) [The diagnosis here is baby-blues which is seen in around 3/4 of women after delivering. Whilst poor sleep could potentially be a sign of depression, poor sleep is expected with a new baby.
Baby Blues: Up to 75% of new mothers will experience a short-lived period of tearfulness and emotional lability starting two or three days after birth and lasting 1–2 days. This is common enough to be easily recognizable by midwifery staff and requires only reassurance and observation towards resolution.]
Question. A 22 year old man is distressed that he hears the voice of his deceased uncle telling him that he is being spied on. He feels low in mood and anxious. He has not left the house for 2 weeks and has recently started to drink increasing quantities of alcohol due to his anxiety. His speeches are interrupted with silence for a few seconds followed by topics unrelated to what was being discussed. He feels he is no longer in control of his own body and thoughts. What is the SINGLE most suitable medication to treat his symptoms?
A. Diazepam
B. Disulfiram
C. Fluoxetine
D. Lithium
E. Olanzapine
Answer: (e) [This individual is suffering from schizophrenia. The speeches that are interrupted with silence followed by an unrelated topic is called thought blocking. The feature that he is no longer in control of his own body and thoughts is called passivity phenomenon. Both of these are features of schizophrenia. First-line treatment in newly diagnosed schizophrenia involves the use of the newer atypical antipsychotics like olanzapine or risperidone. Benzodiazepines are only used if rapid tranquillisation is needed. This may be the choice if the scenario involved a violent, aggressive patient.]
Question. A 24 year old man finds it difficult to come out of a room without having to turn the light switch off and on 3 times. He has tried more than several times to go out of the room without having to do this particular compulsion however he still returns to the room feeling agitated that it was not done. What is the SINGLE most appropriate management?
A. Cognitive behavioural therapy
B. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
C. Antipsychotics
D. MAO inhibitors
E. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Answer: (a) [The diagnosis here is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is included in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in treatment for those who present with OCD. The method is predicated on the idea that a therapeutic effect is achieved as subjects confront their fears and discontinue their escape response. In this case, the patient would be exposed to his feared stimulus,and would refuse to respond with any safety behaviors. SSRIs are also a treatment choice for OCD. But as this is only a mild functional impairment, ERP would be a more appropriate answer. NICE CKS has very specific guidelines for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) In the initial treatment of adults with OCD, low intensity psychological treatments(including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) ) should be offered if thepatient's degree of functional impairment is mild and/or the patient expresses preference for a low intensity approach. Low intensity treatments include brief individual or group CBT (including ERP) Adults with OCD with mild functional impairment who are unable to engage in low intensity CBT (including ERP), or for whom low intensity treatment has proved to be inadequate, should be offered the choice of either a course of an SSRI or more intensive CBT (including ERP).]
Question. A 52 year old woman speaks rapidly without any pause and ignores interruptions. She barely even pauses to take enough breaths. What is the SINGLE best term to describe this kind of person?
A. Flight of ideas
B. Broca’s aphasia
C. Wernicke’s aphasia
D. Pressure of speech
E. Verbal dysphasia
Answer: (d) [Pressure of speech: Pressure of speech is a tendency to speak rapidly and frenziedly, as if motivated by an urgency not apparent to the listener. The speech is rapid, difficult to interrupt, and,with increasing severity of illness, the connection between sequential ideas may become increasingly hard to follow. Pressure of speech is a hallmark of mania and is often seen during manic periods in patients with bipolar disorder.
These questions cover various aspects of medical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and professional skills. Remember to refer to the PLAB exam syllabus and guidelines for a comprehensive understanding of the exam content and format.
The PLAB test is a prerequisite for international medical graduates who want to practise medicine in the UK. Passing both parts of the exam is also a requirement. To receive a licence to practise medicine in the UK after passing the exam, you might need to complete additional exams, such as the GMC registration process and securing a job offer or training placement.
In order to practise medicine in the United Kingdom, international medical graduates must pass the PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) exam. The General Medical Council (GMC), which oversees medical practitioners in the UK, is in charge of administering it.
The PLAB exam is divided into two parts:
PLAB Part 1: This written, multiple-choice exam gauges your knowledge and comprehension of clinical practise and medical principles. It has 180 single-best-answer questions and covers a variety of subjects, such as surgery, psychiatry, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and more. The PLAB Part 1 exam is available in many different nations.
PLAB Part 2: This practical test evaluates your clinical abilities, communication abilities, and ethical standards. There are 18 situations in all, all of them take place in the UK and include interacting with fictitious patients. Your capacity to gather data, generate accurate diagnoses, and create treatment plans is evaluated by the examiners.
You must fulfil specific requirements, such as holding a primary medical certification recognised by the GMC and possessing the appropriate English language proficiency, in order to be qualified to take the PLAB exam. The GMC's website should be checked for the most recent and comprehensive qualifying requirements.
A strong foundation in clinical expertise and medical knowledge is necessary for PLAB exam preparation. Many applicants prepare by combining self-study, books, online sources, and practise tests. Additionally, a number of for-profit businesses provide training programmes and resources created expressly for the PLAB exam.