PLAB (Psychiatry) Sample Questions Set-19
Categories: U.K. PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board)
Question. A 30 year old woman who suffered from depression a few years ago has recently spent a substantial amount of money buying new clothes. She goes out almost every night with her friends. She would not allow any of her friends to choose the restaurant for dinner as she believes she knows the best places to eat. She sleeps less than usual and fills her days with as many activities as she can. What is the SINGLE most likely diagnosis?
A. Mania
B. Depression
C. Bipolar affective disorder
D. Borderline personality disorder
E. Hypomania
Answer: (c) [There is a history of depression and symptoms of mania. This would be a classic scenario that PLAB would give when they would like you to pick Bipolar disorder.]
Question. A 37 year old man was recently sent to jail for breaking all the windows of a shop with his bat. When the manager tried to stop him, he hit the manager on the head. He has a history of many convictions and has been imprisoned many times. He finds it difficult to keep close relationships. He has 2 boys with his ex wife but does not contact them. What is the SINGLE most likely diagnosis?
A. Borderline personality disorder
B. Schizophrenia
C. Avoidant personality disorder
D. Histrionic personality disorder
E. Antisocial behaviour disorder
Answer: (e) [Antisocial Personality disorder: Characterized by continuous antisocial or criminal acts, inability to conform to social rules, impulsivity, disregard for the rights of others, aggressiveness, and lack of remorse. They will typically be manipulative, deceitful and reckless. Like other types of personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder is on a spectrum, which means it can range in severity from occasional bad behaviour to repeatedly breaking the law and committing serious crimes. Psychopaths are considered to have a severe form of antisocial personality disorder.]
Question. An 18 year old boy was recently sent to a juvenile detention center after he set his father’s car on fire. He lacks remorse for setting the car on fire and says he would do it again if he had the chance to. He has always found it difficult to conform to social rules and has no regard for the rights of others. What is the SINGLE most likely diagnosis?
A. Acute psychosis
B. Antisocial personality disorder
C. Mania
D. Borderline personality disorder
E. Schizophrenia
Answer: (b)
Question. A 32 year old lady has recently become more active over the past year. She sleeps less and recently bought a house and 2 new cars. She notices that her sex drive has increased. She often starts a task but is not able to finish it as she has difficulty in focusing on one task alone. What is the SINGLE most likely diagnosis?
A. Bipolar disorder
B. Mania
C. Hypomania
D. Schizophrenia
E. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Answer: (c) [The symptoms here are representative of hypomania which can be thought of as a milder form of mania. With hypomania, there are higher than normal energy levels but they do not generally lead to hospitalization whereas manic episodes usually last for a week or more and may result in hospitalization. Usually, if the stem includes grandiose ideas, hallucinations or delusions PLUSelevated moods, then pick mania, otherwise pick hypomania.]
Question. A 22 year old female was brought to A&E by her friend with the complaint of nausea and flushing. They were at a birthday party and the patient had been drinking copious amounts of alcohol. The patient says that she can see spots of colour around her peripheral vision. A visual field examination and fundoscopy was performed and was determined to be normal. She has no other medical problems and takes paracetamol on occasion for headaches. During the consult, the patient complains of being excessively thirsty and she consumes approximately one litre of water. Her vitals are as follows:
Blood pressure: 138/89 mmHg
Heart rate: 122/min
Respiratory rate: 22 breaths/min
Temperature: 37.9 C
What is the SINGLE most likely drug that this patient has taken?
A. Diphenhydramine
B. Amiodarone
C. Ecstasy
D. Cocaine
E. Amphetamine
Answer: (c) [We are all very automated into picking LSD as the answer as soon as we see some form of colour vision distortion in the stem but what happens when LSD is not part of the options?
This patient has likely taken Ecstasy. She has no past medical problems so diphenhydramine (an antihistamine) and amiodarone are incorrect. Cocaine and amphetamines both present with mydriasis and, although they also present with hyperthermia and an increase in respiratory rate, they do not cause a disturbance in colour perception. One good method of helping differentiate LSD and Ecstasy in the exam is, Ecstasy causes the patient to see floating spots of colour when their eyes are closed. This is an important differentiating factor which is useful the majority of the time in the exam. Ecstasy is an illegal recreational drug containing mainly 3, 4-methylenedioxy-N Methylamphetamine (MDMA) You can recognise a patient that has taken Ecstasy on a stem if they have the following symptoms:
i. Hyperthermia
ii. Dehydration and extreme thirst
iii. Tachycardia
iv. Tachypnoea
v. Insomnia
vi. Spots of colour/floating colours/flashing colours when their eyes are open. (especially when LSD is not an option given) – this is due to the heightened sense of sound and colour.]
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.