Question. A 33 year old man with alternating mood swings and episodes of mood elevation to depression underwent treatment and improvement was seen in his mood swings. What SINGLE medication is needed to be continued to prevent his alternating moods?

A. Anxiolytics

B. Mood stabilizers

C. Antidepressants

D. Antipsychotics

E. Stimulants

 

Answer: (b)

 

Question. A 24 year old man feels down and lethargic. In the last couple of months, he has stopped enjoying his hobbies which include playing the violin. He was admitted to the psychiatry ward last year following an episode of overspending, reckless behaviour and promiscuity. What is the SINGLE most likely diagnosis?

A. Psychosis

B. Cyclothymia

C. Bipolar affective disorder

D. Seasonal affective disorder

E. Depression

 

Answer: (c)

 

Question. A 57 year old man had a myocardial infarction 6 months ago. He has been having low moods since then and a diagnosis of moderate depression has been established. Which is the SINGLE most appropriate medication to start him on?

A. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

B. Tricyclic antidepressants

C. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

D. Benzodiazepam

E. Mood stabilizer

 

ANSWER: (a) [For majority of patients with moderate depression, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered first-line. If this question gave you options of SSRIs, Sertraline would be the best answer to pick as sertraline has good safety profile with patients with myocardial infarction. The Other antidepressants have not been studied enough in context of myocardial infarction however citalopram has gained popularity and is also considered safe for use in patients with depression with a history of myocardial infarction. Citalopram and fluoxetine are the preferred SSRIs if there is no relevant past medical history.]

 

Question. A 32 year old schizophrenic lady complains that she hears voices saying “she is evil”. What is the SINGLE most likely type of hallucinations involved?

A. First-person auditory hallucinations

B. Second-person auditory hallucinations

C. Third-person auditory hallucinations

D. Echo de la pensee

E. Gedankenlautwerden

 

Answer: (c) [Third-person auditory hallucinations: Auditory hallucinations characteristic of schizophrenia where voices are heard referring to the patient as ‘he’ or ‘she’, rather than ‘you’. For example "She is an evil person". Sometimes the voices are of a running commentary. Example, the patient hears one or more voices providing a narrative of their current actions, ‘he’s getting up…now he's going towards the window’.]

 

Question. A 28 year old woman comes in with her limbs paralysed after witnessing a car accident. She cannot recall what just happened. What is the SINGLE most likely diagnosis?

A. Somatization disorder

B. Hypochondriasis

C. Munchausen’s syndrome

D. Conversion disorder

E. Malingering

 

Answer: (d) [Conversion (dissociative) disorders typically involves loss or disturbance of normal motor or sensory function which initially appears to have a neurological or other physical cause but is later attributed to a psychological cause. The patient does not consciously feign the symptoms or seek material gain. Memory loss, seizures, loss of speech and paralysis can occur.]

 

Question. A 24 year old man finds it difficult to come out of his house without checking if he has locked the door several times. When he exits his house, he has to check it at least 3 times by pushing the door handle to confirm it is locked. He now wants help as he has been doing this for a couple of years. What is the SINGLE most appropriate management?

A. Exposure and response prevention (ERP)

B. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

C. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

D. Antipsychotics

E. Desensitization

 

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 (locking the door just once and coming out of the house),and would refuse to respond with any safety behaviors (checking the door again). 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 a 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).]


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.