MCQ exam (Paper 1) – Answer Key
Questions Answers
History, mental state exam and
psychopathology
1. A 40-year-old man admitted to the The answer is B.
medical ward for upper gastrointestinal
tract bleeding is a known patient Explanation: He exhibits denial and denies the
dependent on alcohol. His amylase level reality that he is dependent on alcohol and
is high. During the interview, he leading to medical complication.
mentions that, ‘I don’t have a problem
with alcohol.’ What is the defence Author: Roger Ho
mechanism?
Year: 2013.
A. Acting out
B. Denial
C. Projection
D. Rationalization
E. Reaction formation.
2. A 50-year-old woman is referred by her The answer is C.
family doctor because she suffers from
depressive disorder. During the
Explanation: This patient has difficulty to
interview, she has difficulty in
verbalizing her emotions. The express her emotion and this phenomenon is
phenomenon is BEST described as: known as alexithymia.
A. Ambivalence Author: Roger Ho
B. Affective flattening
C. Alexithymia Year: 2013
D. Alogia
E. Anhedonia.
3. Visual hallucinations are LEAST The answer is E.
likely to be found in which of the
following? Explanation: The other options A to D are
associated with visual hallucination. Patients
A. Alcohol withdrawal delirium suffering from Parkinson’s disease may present
B. Central anticholinergic delirium with visual hallucinations as a result of side
C. Lewy body dementia effect of madopar. As most patients suffering
D. Parkinson’s disease from schizophrenia in Singapore do not use
E. Schizophrenia. illicit drugs, visual hallucinations are relatively
less common.
Author: Roger Ho
Year: 2013
4. Which of the following is NOT a The answer is A.
common sign or symptom of panic
attack?
Explanation: As a result of sympathetic drive,
A. Hypotension the patient may experience hypertension
B. Palpitation rather than hypotension.
C. Shortness of breath
D. Sweating Author: Roger Ho
E. Trembling.
1
, Year: 2013.
Cognitive assessment
5. Which of the following is NOT a The answer is B.
prominent cognitive feature of cortical
dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease?
Explanation: Anhedonia (loss of interest) and
A. Amnesia depression are more common in subcortical
B. Anhedonia dementia. The other 4 As: amnesia, apathy,
C. Apathy agnosia and apraxia are common in cortical
D. Agnosia dementia.
E. Apraxia.
Author: Roger Ho
Year: 2013
This is an advanced –level question.
Psychiatric epidemiology
6. In the community, the MOST common The answer is C.
psychiatric diagnosis over age 65 is:
Explanation: The National Institute of Mental
A. Alzheimer’s disease Health's Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA)
B. Late-onset schizophrenia program has found that the most common mental
C. Mood disorder disorder of old age is depressive disorder.
D. Delirium
E. Vascular dementia. Author: Roger Ho
Year: 2013
Psychiatric aetiology, diagnosis and
classification
7. Which of the following is LEAST LIKELY to The answer is A.
be a risk factor for delusional disorder?
Explanation: The risk of delusional disorder
A. Anxiety increases with age. Hearing loss is a risk factor.
B. Increased age Low socioeconomic status and severe stress
C. Immigration are also risk factors.
D. Sensory impairment
E. Social isolation. Author: Roger Ho
Year: 2013.
8. A female adolescent was raised by an The answer is A.
abusive father when she was young.
Although he has changed and is no longer Explanation: The father is a conditioned stimuli
abusive towards her, she still becomes and abuse is an unconditioned stimuli. The fear
anxious as soon as she sees him. What is is the conditioned response. Even without the
the BEST explanation based on abuse, the patient is fearful of the father. This
psychological theory? is known as classical conditioning.
A. Classical conditioning Author: Roger Ho
B. Operant conditioning
C. Free association Year: 2013.
D. Reaction formation
E. Transference. This is an advanced- level question.
2
Questions Answers
History, mental state exam and
psychopathology
1. A 40-year-old man admitted to the The answer is B.
medical ward for upper gastrointestinal
tract bleeding is a known patient Explanation: He exhibits denial and denies the
dependent on alcohol. His amylase level reality that he is dependent on alcohol and
is high. During the interview, he leading to medical complication.
mentions that, ‘I don’t have a problem
with alcohol.’ What is the defence Author: Roger Ho
mechanism?
Year: 2013.
A. Acting out
B. Denial
C. Projection
D. Rationalization
E. Reaction formation.
2. A 50-year-old woman is referred by her The answer is C.
family doctor because she suffers from
depressive disorder. During the
Explanation: This patient has difficulty to
interview, she has difficulty in
verbalizing her emotions. The express her emotion and this phenomenon is
phenomenon is BEST described as: known as alexithymia.
A. Ambivalence Author: Roger Ho
B. Affective flattening
C. Alexithymia Year: 2013
D. Alogia
E. Anhedonia.
3. Visual hallucinations are LEAST The answer is E.
likely to be found in which of the
following? Explanation: The other options A to D are
associated with visual hallucination. Patients
A. Alcohol withdrawal delirium suffering from Parkinson’s disease may present
B. Central anticholinergic delirium with visual hallucinations as a result of side
C. Lewy body dementia effect of madopar. As most patients suffering
D. Parkinson’s disease from schizophrenia in Singapore do not use
E. Schizophrenia. illicit drugs, visual hallucinations are relatively
less common.
Author: Roger Ho
Year: 2013
4. Which of the following is NOT a The answer is A.
common sign or symptom of panic
attack?
Explanation: As a result of sympathetic drive,
A. Hypotension the patient may experience hypertension
B. Palpitation rather than hypotension.
C. Shortness of breath
D. Sweating Author: Roger Ho
E. Trembling.
1
, Year: 2013.
Cognitive assessment
5. Which of the following is NOT a The answer is B.
prominent cognitive feature of cortical
dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease?
Explanation: Anhedonia (loss of interest) and
A. Amnesia depression are more common in subcortical
B. Anhedonia dementia. The other 4 As: amnesia, apathy,
C. Apathy agnosia and apraxia are common in cortical
D. Agnosia dementia.
E. Apraxia.
Author: Roger Ho
Year: 2013
This is an advanced –level question.
Psychiatric epidemiology
6. In the community, the MOST common The answer is C.
psychiatric diagnosis over age 65 is:
Explanation: The National Institute of Mental
A. Alzheimer’s disease Health's Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA)
B. Late-onset schizophrenia program has found that the most common mental
C. Mood disorder disorder of old age is depressive disorder.
D. Delirium
E. Vascular dementia. Author: Roger Ho
Year: 2013
Psychiatric aetiology, diagnosis and
classification
7. Which of the following is LEAST LIKELY to The answer is A.
be a risk factor for delusional disorder?
Explanation: The risk of delusional disorder
A. Anxiety increases with age. Hearing loss is a risk factor.
B. Increased age Low socioeconomic status and severe stress
C. Immigration are also risk factors.
D. Sensory impairment
E. Social isolation. Author: Roger Ho
Year: 2013.
8. A female adolescent was raised by an The answer is A.
abusive father when she was young.
Although he has changed and is no longer Explanation: The father is a conditioned stimuli
abusive towards her, she still becomes and abuse is an unconditioned stimuli. The fear
anxious as soon as she sees him. What is is the conditioned response. Even without the
the BEST explanation based on abuse, the patient is fearful of the father. This
psychological theory? is known as classical conditioning.
A. Classical conditioning Author: Roger Ho
B. Operant conditioning
C. Free association Year: 2013.
D. Reaction formation
E. Transference. This is an advanced- level question.
2
