SMLE Psychiatry MCQs: Practice Questions With Explanations
Sample SMLE MCQs from Psychiatry — a 155-question subject in HighYield's SMLE bank without a dedicated practice post yet — covering mood disorders, psychosis and pharmacology.
Psychiatry is a 155-question subject in HighYield's SMLE question bank that doesn't yet have a dedicated practice post. Below is a sample set of Psychiatry MCQs in the style tested on the Saudi Medical Licensing Exam.
Mood Disorders
1. A major depressive episode requires a depressed mood or loss of interest/pleasure plus additional symptoms present for at least:
- A) 1 week
- B) 2 weeks ✅
- C) 1 month
- D) 6 months
2. A manic episode is characterised by abnormally elevated or irritable mood and increased energy lasting at least:
- A) 3 days
- B) 1 week (or any duration if hospitalisation is required) ✅
- C) 2 weeks
- D) 1 month
3. First-line pharmacologic treatment for major depressive disorder is generally:
- A) Tricyclic antidepressants
- B) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ✅
- C) Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- D) Benzodiazepines
4. Lithium, used for bipolar disorder maintenance, requires close monitoring primarily because of its:
- A) Hepatotoxicity
- B) Narrow therapeutic index ✅
- C) High addiction potential
- D) Rapid onset of action
Psychotic Disorders
5. A diagnosis of schizophrenia requires continuous signs of disturbance for at least 6 months, including at least 1 month of active-phase symptoms such as:
- A) Delusions or hallucinations ✅
- B) Excessive anxiety
- C) Depressed mood
- D) Memory impairment
6. Auditory hallucinations of voices discussing the patient in the third person are an example of a Schneiderian:
- A) Second-rank symptom
- B) First-rank symptom ✅
- C) Negative symptom
- D) Prodromal symptom
7. Involuntary, repetitive movements such as lip-smacking that can emerge after long-term typical antipsychotic use are known as:
- A) Akathisia
- B) Acute dystonia
- C) Tardive dyskinesia ✅
- D) Parkinsonism
Anxiety & Other Disorders
8. Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks with persistent worry about future attacks describes:
- A) Generalised anxiety disorder
- B) Panic disorder ✅
- C) Social anxiety disorder
- D) Specific phobia
9. Excessive, difficult-to-control worry about multiple life events for 6 months or more describes:
- A) Panic disorder
- B) Generalised anxiety disorder ✅
- C) Adjustment disorder
- D) Acute stress disorder
10. The core feature distinguishing obsessive-compulsive disorder is:
- A) Persistent low mood
- B) Intrusive thoughts relieved by repetitive behaviours ✅
- C) Grandiose delusions
- D) Fluctuating consciousness
Delirium vs Dementia
11. The clinical feature that most reliably distinguishes delirium from dementia is:
- A) Memory loss
- B) Acute onset with fluctuating consciousness ✅
- C) Old age
- D) Language difficulty
12. Alcohol withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens) most commonly emerges within which window after the last drink?
- A) 2–6 hours
- B) 48–96 hours ✅
- C) 2 weeks
- D) 1 month
Prepare with HighYield
HighYield's SMLE question bank covers Psychiatry alongside Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, Pharmacology and every other subject tested in the Saudi Medical Licensing Exam, with every question explained. Not sure where to start? See our SMLE Exam Guide for eligibility and syllabus.