NEET PG PYQ
Psychiatry NEET PG Previous Year Questions: Analysis and Trends
NEET PG Psychiatry PYQ analysis -- mood disorders, psychopharmacology, and anxiety disorders tested across approximately 6-10 questions per paper.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Psychiatry NEET PG Previous Year Questions: Analysis and Trends
NEET PG Psychiatry PYQ analysis -- mood disorders, psychopharmacology, and anxiety disorders tested across approximately 6-10 questions per paper.
Psychiatry in NEET PG: previous year question analysis
Psychiatry contributes approximately 6 to 10 questions per NEET PG paper. While the absolute question count is modest, psychiatry is often considered a high-scoring subject because it tests well-defined diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols.
The subject covers mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, child psychiatry, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapy. NEET PG psychiatry questions are predominantly scenario-based, presenting clinical vignettes and asking for diagnosis or treatment selection.
Psychopharmacology -- the pharmacological management of psychiatric conditions -- is a major component that overlaps with Pharmacology, providing double returns on preparation time.
Year-wise question distribution
Psychiatry accounts for approximately 3-5% of the NEET PG paper. Mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder) contribute roughly 20-25% of psychiatry questions. Psychotic disorders (schizophrenia) account for approximately 15-20%. Anxiety disorders contribute 15-20%. Psychopharmacology accounts for 15-20%. Substance use disorders and other topics share the remainder.
The proportion of psychopharmacology questions has increased in recent years.
Most repeated topics
- **Schizophrenia** (appeared Repeated 3-4 times in last 6 years): Schneider's first-rank symptoms, subtypes, management
- **Depression** (appeared Repeated 3-4 times in last 6 years): Diagnostic criteria, antidepressant selection, suicidality assessment
- **Bipolar Disorder** (appeared Repeated 2-3 times in last 6 years): Manic episode features, mood stabilisers, lithium monitoring
- **Psychopharmacology -- SSRIs and Antipsychotics** (appeared Repeated 3-4 times in last 6 years): Drug selection, side effects, serotonin syndrome
- **Anxiety Disorders** (appeared Repeated 2-3 times in last 6 years): Panic disorder, OCD, PTSD -- diagnosis and treatment
- **Substance Use Disorders** (appeared Repeated 2-3 times in last 6 years): Alcohol withdrawal management, opioid dependence, delirium tremens
- **Personality Disorders** (appeared Repeated 2-3 times in last 6 years): Cluster classification, key features of each type
- **Child Psychiatry** (appeared Repeated 2-3 times in last 6 years): ADHD, autism spectrum, intellectual disability
- **Lithium** (appeared Repeated 2-3 times in last 6 years): Therapeutic range, monitoring, toxicity
- **Psychotherapy Types** (appeared Repeated 1-2 times in last 6 years): CBT, psychoanalysis, indications for each
Topic-wise trend analysis
NEET PG psychiatry has moved towards more clinical scenario-based questions. Instead of asking about classification systems directly, the exam presents a clinical vignette and expects the candidate to arrive at a diagnosis using standard diagnostic criteria.
Psychopharmacology has gained prominence, with questions testing drug selection, side effect profiles, and management of complications (serotonin syndrome, neuroleptic malignant syndrome). This reflects the clinical reality where pharmacological management is a core psychiatric competency.
Substance use disorders, particularly alcohol-related conditions, have been tested with increasing regularity, reflecting their public health significance.
High-yield areas based on PYQ patterns
Mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder) and schizophrenia together form the highest-yield area, contributing 3-5 questions per paper. Understanding diagnostic criteria and first-line treatment for each is essential.
Psychopharmacology (antidepressant and antipsychotic selection, lithium use, side effect management) is equally important and overlaps with Pharmacology. Anxiety disorders and substance use disorders complete the high-yield list.
How to use PYQs effectively
Psychiatry PYQs should be approached as clinical case exercises. For each vignette, practise identifying the key diagnostic features and matching them to diagnostic criteria. This skill transfers directly to exam performance.
Create a drug selection table: for each major psychiatric condition, note the first-line drug, second-line options, and key side effects. This table addresses both the psychiatry and pharmacology aspects of psychiatric management.
Practice strategy
Complete all available psychiatry PYQs in 2-3 focused sessions. The subject is compact and the question count is limited, making comprehensive PYQ coverage feasible.
Supplementing PYQ practice with a review of diagnostic criteria (ICD-10/DSM-5) for commonly tested conditions helps with the scenario-based question format.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many psychiatry questions come in NEET PG?
Approximately 6 to 10 questions per paper.
Is psychiatry worth investing time in for NEET PG?
Yes. The question count is modest but the questions are highly scoreable. The psychopharmacology overlap with Pharmacology provides additional returns.
Which psychiatric conditions are most tested?
Schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders are the most consistently tested conditions.
Should I study psychotherapy for NEET PG?
Basic knowledge of CBT and its indications is useful, but detailed psychotherapy theory is low-yield compared to psychopharmacology.
Inside MedNext for this topic
- 411 MedNext-authored chapters
- 80,000+ MCQ bank
- 15 study modes
- Growing visual cheat sheets
Study modes
- Notes
- MCQ
- Audio
- Video
- Visual
- 3D Anatomy
- Trace
- Flashcards
- Mnemonics
- Image Bank
- Clinical
- Microscopy
- Audio QBank
- Cadaver
- Book Match
Continue reading
NEET PG StrategyHow to Prepare Psychiatry
Study strategy, time allocation and high-yield topics for Psychiatry.
Rapid RevisionPsychiatry One-Liners
Must-know revision facts for Psychiatry.
Subject HubPsychiatry Hub
All Psychiatry resources in one place.
Find your weak Psychiatry topics
Identify which PYQ topics are costing you marks. A targeted weakness analysis shows exactly where to focus your remaining revision time.
Find your weak topics

