NEET PG Rapid Revision
Psychiatry One-Liners for NEET PG: Rapid Revision
High-yield psychiatry one-liners for NEET PG covering psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, substance abuse and psychopharmacology.
MedNext Academy | 6 min read
Psychiatry One-Liners for NEET PG: Rapid Revision
High-yield psychiatry one-liners for NEET PG covering psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, substance abuse and psychopharmacology.
Psychiatry: rapid revision one-liners for NEET PG
Psychiatry in NEET PG covers psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, substance abuse, child psychiatry and psychopharmacology. Questions often present clinical vignettes and ask for the diagnosis or appropriate pharmacotherapy.
These one-liners focus on diagnostic criteria, first-rank symptoms, drug of choice and characteristic features of psychiatric conditions that are most frequently tested.
Must-know one-liners
- Schneider first-rank symptoms of schizophrenia: auditory hallucinations (running commentary, thought echo, third-person voices), thought insertion/withdrawal/broadcasting, passivity phenomena, delusional perception
- Schizophrenia requires symptoms for at least 6 months (including at least 1 month of active symptoms) according to DSM-5
- Positive symptoms of schizophrenia: hallucinations, delusions, disorganised speech/behaviour; negative symptoms: flat affect, alogia, avolition, anhedonia, social withdrawal
- Chlorpromazine was the first antipsychotic; typical antipsychotics block D2 receptors and cause extrapyramidal side effects (EPS)
- Clozapine is the drug of choice for treatment-resistant schizophrenia; requires regular blood counts due to risk of agranulocytosis
- Tardive dyskinesia: involuntary movements (lip smacking, tongue protrusion) due to long-term typical antipsychotic use; may be irreversible
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS): fever, rigidity, autonomic instability, elevated CK; caused by antipsychotics; treated with dantrolene and bromocriptine
- Bipolar disorder Type I: at least one manic episode; Type II: hypomanic episodes with major depressive episodes
- Lithium is the gold standard for bipolar disorder prophylaxis; narrow therapeutic index (0.6-1.2 mEq/L); causes nephrogenic DI, hypothyroidism, tremor and Ebstein anomaly (teratogenic)
- Valproate and carbamazepine are alternative mood stabilisers; valproate is preferred for rapid cycling bipolar disorder
- Major depressive disorder (MDD): depressed mood or anhedonia + at least 4 other symptoms (sleep, interest, guilt, energy, concentration, appetite, psychomotor, suicidality) for >= 2 weeks
- SSRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalopram) are the first-line treatment for major depressive disorder
- Serotonin syndrome: agitation, hyperthermia, myoclonus, hyperreflexia, diaphoresis; caused by excess serotonergic activity; cyproheptadine is the antidote
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): most effective treatment for severe depression with suicidality, psychotic depression and catatonia; succinylcholine used as muscle relaxant
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD): excessive worry about multiple things for >= 6 months; buspirone or SSRIs are first-line treatment
- Panic disorder: recurrent unexpected panic attacks with anticipatory anxiety; SSRIs are first-line; benzodiazepines for acute episodes
- OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder): obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviours); SSRIs (high dose) are first-line; fluvoxamine and clomipramine are particularly effective
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder): re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal and negative mood/cognition after a traumatic event; SSRIs are first-line; prazosin for nightmares
- Specific phobia: most common anxiety disorder; systematic desensitisation and flooding are the behavioural treatments
- Social anxiety disorder (social phobia): fear of social situations; SSRIs are first-line; beta-blockers (propranolol) for performance anxiety
- Conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder): neurological symptoms (paralysis, blindness, seizures) without organic cause; la belle indifference may be present
- Dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder): presence of two or more distinct personality states; associated with severe childhood trauma
- Anorexia nervosa: BMI < 17.5 (or < 85% expected weight), intense fear of weight gain, distorted body image; medical complications include bradycardia, hypotension, osteoporosis, lanugo hair
- Bulimia nervosa: recurrent binge eating followed by compensatory behaviour (purging, laxatives, excessive exercise); Russell sign (calluses on knuckles from self-induced vomiting)
- Delirium: acute confusional state with fluctuating consciousness, inattention, disorientation; usually reversible; treat the underlying cause
- Dementia: progressive decline in cognitive function with preserved consciousness; Alzheimer disease is the most common cause (60-70% of cases)
- Alzheimer disease: amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles; acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine) are first-line treatment
- Vascular dementia: second most common cause of dementia; stepwise deterioration; associated with cardiovascular risk factors
- Alcohol withdrawal: tremors (6-24 hours), seizures (24-48 hours), delirium tremens (48-72 hours); benzodiazepines (chlordiazepoxide, lorazepam) are the treatment of choice
- Delirium tremens: severe alcohol withdrawal with confusion, tremors, autonomic instability, visual hallucinations; mortality is significant without treatment
- Disulfiram: aversion therapy for alcohol dependence; inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase causing acetaldehyde accumulation (flushing, nausea, headache on drinking alcohol)
- Naltrexone: opioid antagonist used for alcohol craving reduction and opioid dependence
- Opioid overdose: pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression, altered consciousness; naloxone is the antidote
- Cannabis: most commonly used illicit drug; acute effects include euphoria, tachycardia, conjunctival injection, impaired coordination; amotivational syndrome with chronic use
- Amphetamine/methamphetamine: causes stimulant effects, paranoia, formication (tactile hallucinations of insects crawling under skin); sympathomimetic toxidrome
- ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity; symptoms present before age 12; methylphenidate is the first-line pharmacotherapy
- Autism spectrum disorder: deficits in social communication/interaction + restricted, repetitive behaviours; onset in early developmental period
- Tourette syndrome: multiple motor tics + at least one vocal tic for > 1 year; onset before age 18; haloperidol or aripiprazole for treatment
- Cluster A personality disorders: paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal (odd/eccentric)
- Cluster B personality disorders: antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic (dramatic/erratic)
- Cluster C personality disorders: avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive (anxious/fearful)
- Borderline personality disorder: unstable relationships, identity disturbance, impulsivity, recurrent self-harm, fear of abandonment; dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is the psychotherapy of choice
- Antisocial personality disorder: disregard for rights of others, deceitfulness, impulsivity; must be >= 18 years old for diagnosis; conduct disorder before age 15
- Munchausen syndrome (factitious disorder imposed on self): deliberate feigning or production of illness for the sick role; Munchausen by proxy is imposed on another (usually a child)
- Malingering: deliberate feigning of illness for external gain (avoiding work, legal advantage); not a psychiatric disorder
- IQ classification: 50-69 = mild intellectual disability; 35-49 = moderate; 20-34 = severe; < 20 = profound; Down syndrome is the most common genetic cause
- Korsakoff syndrome: chronic thiamine deficiency causing anterograde amnesia, confabulation and personality change; often follows untreated Wernicke encephalopathy
- Benzodiazepine overdose: drowsiness, ataxia, respiratory depression; flumazenil is the specific antagonist
- Adjustment disorder: emotional or behavioural symptoms within 3 months of an identifiable stressor that do not meet criteria for another disorder
- Somatic symptom disorder: one or more distressing somatic symptoms with disproportionate thoughts, feelings or behaviours related to the symptoms
How to use these one-liners
Psychiatry one-liners are best revised by diagnostic category. Go through psychotic disorders first, then mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and personality disorders. For each condition, know the diagnostic criteria, first-line treatment and key clinical features.
The exam frequently presents a clinical vignette and asks you to identify the disorder or choose the appropriate medication. Pattern recognition from clinical descriptions is the key skill.
Key mnemonics
SIG-E-CAPS for depression screening: Sleep, Interest, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor, Suicidality -- need depressed mood or anhedonia plus 4 of these for MDD.
Cluster A = odd/Weird; Cluster B = Bad/dramatic; Cluster C = Cowardly/anxious.
Alcohol withdrawal timeline: 6-24h = Tremors, 24-48h = Seizures, 48-72h = Delirium tremens (TSD -- increasing severity).
Revision schedule
Psychiatry is a compact subject. Revise these one-liners every 3-4 days, covering 2-3 diagnostic categories per session. Focus extra time on psychopharmacology (drug side effects and indications) and substance abuse (withdrawal syndromes and treatment). One complete run-through daily in the final week is sufficient.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many psychiatry questions appear in NEET PG?
Typically 8-12 questions. Schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and psychopharmacology are the most commonly tested areas.
How important is psychopharmacology?
Very important. Drug of choice questions, side effect profiles (especially clozapine, lithium, SSRIs) and drug-induced syndromes (NMS, serotonin syndrome, tardive dyskinesia) appear frequently.
Are DSM-5 criteria asked directly?
The specific diagnostic criteria (duration, number of symptoms) for major conditions like schizophrenia, MDD and GAD are tested. You do not need to memorise the entire DSM-5, but know the key criteria for the top 10-15 conditions.
How do I differentiate between similar presentations?
Focus on the key distinguishing features: delirium (fluctuating consciousness) vs dementia (preserved consciousness), panic disorder (unexpected attacks) vs specific phobia (situational), and conversion disorder (neurological symptoms) vs malingering (external gain).
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