Clerkship Exam & Video OSCE

The clerkship exam is 150 multiple-choice questions. The exam is composed of questions from the Association of Directors of Medical Educators in Psychiatry (ADMSEP) question bank.

On exam day there will also be a video OSCE. You will watch a 30-minute video of a patient interview and you will then have 90 minutes to do a write up on a form that will be provided.

The Clerkship Coordinator is in charge of administrating and proctoring the exam. Maintaining the integrity of the exam and the testing conditions are of the utmost importance. Student cooperation with the Clerkship Coordinator is essential. Any reported irregularities will be treated seriously.

Exam Preparation

The following list covers roughly 80-90% of the topics/material you should be familiar with so that you will be prepared for the clerkship exam. Sources for you to study include the lectures, lecture readings and the clerkship textbook. Included in some lecture handouts are multiple-choice questions (and answers). Lastly, you will also learn from your residents and attendings at your clinical sites as well as through your own efforts in reading around patients or other clinical questions. Good luck.

CATEGORY: Diagnostic Issues & Patient Management

• TOPIC: Delirium & Dementia
• TOPIC: Eating Disorders
• TOPIC: Anxiety Disorders
• TOPIC: Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder & Other Psychoses
• TOPIC: Affective Disorders-Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression and other Depressive Disorders
• TOPIC: Somatoform Disorders & Malingering & Factitious Disorder
• TOPIC: Personality Disorders
• TOPIC: Substance Abuse: Opiates, Cocaine, Alcohol Abuse/Dependence, PCP, LSD, Marijuana; Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

CATEGORY: Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry

• TOPIC: Lithium and Mood Stabilizers
• TOPIC: Benzodiazepines and Anxiolytics
• TOPIC: Antipsychotic Medications
• TOPIC: Antidepressants
• TOPIC: Side Effects of Medications
• TOPIC: Neurotransmitters, Dopamine System, Catecholamine System, Serotonin System
• TOPIC: ECT

CATEGORY: Forensic Psychiatry

• TOPIC: Involuntary Commitment, Informed Consent, Duty to Warn/Protect

CATEGORY: Emergency Psychiatry

• TOPIC: Suicide, Suicide Risk
• TOPIC: Violent Behavior and the Management of the Violent Patient

CATEGORY: Patient Assessment

• TOPIC: Interviewing & Mental Status Examination
• TOPIC: Psychiatric Signs and Symptoms
• TOPIC: Psychiatric Diagnosis

CATEGORY: Psychodynamics and Psychotherapy

• TOPIC: Defense Mechanisms
• TOPIC: Psychotherapies

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