Psychiatry & Behavioral Science Exam Study Guide 2025 – Verified
Questions and Answers | USMLE/NBME/Medical School Prep
Frequent Questions, Detailed for a Guaranteed Pass!!
What is the hallmark feature of specific phobia?
Immediate, excessive fear triggered by an object/situation for ≥6 months.
What are common subtypes of specific phobia?
Animal, natural (heights, storms), situational, blood-injection-injury.
What is the treatment for specific phobia?
CBT (exposure therapy), short-term BZDs or BBs.
SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM & OTHER PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS
Disorder How to Identify
Schizophrenia ✅ Duration >6 months
✅ 1+ month of active psychotic
symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized
speech, negative sx)
✅ Impaired functioning (social/work/self-care)
🚫 No prominent mood symptoms
Schizophreniform ✅ Same symptoms as schizophrenia
✅ Duration between 1–6 months
❌ No decline in functioning
🚫 No prominent mood symptoms
Brief Psychotic ✅ Sudden onset of ≥1 psychotic
Disorder symptom (delusion, hallucination, disorganized
speech/behavior)
✅ Lasts <1 month, then full return to baseline
🚫 No mood symptoms or major functional decline
, Schizoaffective ✅ Psychotic symptoms AND mood symptoms
(depression or mania) together
✅ ≥2 weeks of psychosis without mood symptoms
✅ Functional decline possible
Delusional ✅ Only delusions, often non-bizarre (e.g. being
Disorder followed, poisoned)
✅ No hallucinations, disorganized speech, or
negative symptoms
✅ Duration ≥1 month
✅ Functioning relatively preserved
What are the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia?
Duration: >6 months;
2+ Sx: for 1 month: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech.
1+ LOF: selfcare, work, academic, occupation
REQUIRE: hallucination/delusion w/o mood sx
What must be ruled out in schizophrenia?
Mood disorders must be absent during psychotic episodes.
What is the treatment for schizophrenia?
1st-line AS: Aripiprazole, Ziprasidone;
Refractory: Clozapine
ONLY*** Force meds if danger to self or others.
How long do symptoms last in schizophreniform disorder?
1–6 months.
How does schizophreniform disorder differ from schizophrenia?
No loss of function required. selfcare, work, academic, occupation
What defines schizoaffective disorder?
Mood symptoms (MDD or bipolar) + schizophrenia symptoms together.
What is the hallmark of delusional disorder?
Non-bizarre delusions for ≥1 month with no schizophrenia symptoms.
, —ear/eye/speech/neg
What is the duration of brief psychotic disorder?
1 day to <1 month.
What are core symptoms of brief psychotic disorder?
1+ of: delusion, hallucination, disorganized speech or behavior.
When does brief psychotic disorder become schizophreniform?
If symptoms last >1 month.
What are obsessions in OCD?
Recurrent, intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety.
What are compulsions in OCD?
Repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety from obsessions.
What is the treatment for OCD?
1st-line: SSRIs; TCA: Clomipramine;
CBT (exposure + response prevention).
What defines Bipolar I disorder?
At least 1 manic episode (≥1 week) ± depressive episodes.
What defines Bipolar II disorder?
At least 1 hypomanic episode (≥4 days) + MDD episode.
How is Bipolar I treated?
Acute mania: Lithium + antipsychotic;
Maintenance: Lithium.
How is Bipolar II treated?
Risperidone or Olanzapine;
Adjunct: BZDs (e.g., for sleep).
What is the pathophysiology of alcohol use disorder?
CNS depressant —> increase GABA + inhibits glutamate.
What is the classic lab finding in chronic alcohol use?
AST:ALT >2:1, ↑GGT, ↑MCV, ↑CDT.
Describe the alcohol withdrawal timeline.
6–12h: tremor, anxiety;
Questions and Answers | USMLE/NBME/Medical School Prep
Frequent Questions, Detailed for a Guaranteed Pass!!
What is the hallmark feature of specific phobia?
Immediate, excessive fear triggered by an object/situation for ≥6 months.
What are common subtypes of specific phobia?
Animal, natural (heights, storms), situational, blood-injection-injury.
What is the treatment for specific phobia?
CBT (exposure therapy), short-term BZDs or BBs.
SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM & OTHER PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS
Disorder How to Identify
Schizophrenia ✅ Duration >6 months
✅ 1+ month of active psychotic
symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized
speech, negative sx)
✅ Impaired functioning (social/work/self-care)
🚫 No prominent mood symptoms
Schizophreniform ✅ Same symptoms as schizophrenia
✅ Duration between 1–6 months
❌ No decline in functioning
🚫 No prominent mood symptoms
Brief Psychotic ✅ Sudden onset of ≥1 psychotic
Disorder symptom (delusion, hallucination, disorganized
speech/behavior)
✅ Lasts <1 month, then full return to baseline
🚫 No mood symptoms or major functional decline
, Schizoaffective ✅ Psychotic symptoms AND mood symptoms
(depression or mania) together
✅ ≥2 weeks of psychosis without mood symptoms
✅ Functional decline possible
Delusional ✅ Only delusions, often non-bizarre (e.g. being
Disorder followed, poisoned)
✅ No hallucinations, disorganized speech, or
negative symptoms
✅ Duration ≥1 month
✅ Functioning relatively preserved
What are the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia?
Duration: >6 months;
2+ Sx: for 1 month: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech.
1+ LOF: selfcare, work, academic, occupation
REQUIRE: hallucination/delusion w/o mood sx
What must be ruled out in schizophrenia?
Mood disorders must be absent during psychotic episodes.
What is the treatment for schizophrenia?
1st-line AS: Aripiprazole, Ziprasidone;
Refractory: Clozapine
ONLY*** Force meds if danger to self or others.
How long do symptoms last in schizophreniform disorder?
1–6 months.
How does schizophreniform disorder differ from schizophrenia?
No loss of function required. selfcare, work, academic, occupation
What defines schizoaffective disorder?
Mood symptoms (MDD or bipolar) + schizophrenia symptoms together.
What is the hallmark of delusional disorder?
Non-bizarre delusions for ≥1 month with no schizophrenia symptoms.
, —ear/eye/speech/neg
What is the duration of brief psychotic disorder?
1 day to <1 month.
What are core symptoms of brief psychotic disorder?
1+ of: delusion, hallucination, disorganized speech or behavior.
When does brief psychotic disorder become schizophreniform?
If symptoms last >1 month.
What are obsessions in OCD?
Recurrent, intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety.
What are compulsions in OCD?
Repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety from obsessions.
What is the treatment for OCD?
1st-line: SSRIs; TCA: Clomipramine;
CBT (exposure + response prevention).
What defines Bipolar I disorder?
At least 1 manic episode (≥1 week) ± depressive episodes.
What defines Bipolar II disorder?
At least 1 hypomanic episode (≥4 days) + MDD episode.
How is Bipolar I treated?
Acute mania: Lithium + antipsychotic;
Maintenance: Lithium.
How is Bipolar II treated?
Risperidone or Olanzapine;
Adjunct: BZDs (e.g., for sleep).
What is the pathophysiology of alcohol use disorder?
CNS depressant —> increase GABA + inhibits glutamate.
What is the classic lab finding in chronic alcohol use?
AST:ALT >2:1, ↑GGT, ↑MCV, ↑CDT.
Describe the alcohol withdrawal timeline.
6–12h: tremor, anxiety;
