Table Of ContentBest of Five MCQs for MRCPsych Paper 2
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Best of Five MCQs for
MRCPsych Paper 2
Lena Palaniyappan
Clinical Lecturer, Division of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
Rajeev Krishnadas
Clinical Lecturer, Sackler Institute of Psychobiological Research, University of Glasgow,
Glasgow, UK
1
1
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FOREWORD
Passing the MRCPsych examination is a major milestone in the career of every aspirant psychia-
trist in the UK. This examination specifi es the minimum levels of knowledge and skills that are
essential for gaining the membership of the College.
Rajeev Krishnadas and Lena Palaniyappan have had extensive and varied training and experi-
ence, in both research and teaching. They are both clinical lecturers with proven track records
in teaching, developing, and publishing educational materials and organizing the successful SPMM
course for trainee psychiatrists. In fact, Lena Palaniyappan was awarded the Laughlin Prize in the
MRCPsych exams.
There are many books of varying quality on the market for candidates sitting the MRCPsych
exams. What differentiates an outstanding book from an ordinary book is that in addition to aid-
ing passing the exams, the former also promotes learning that would ultimately make the readers
wiser and help improve patient care.
The authors have used their teaching skills and experience to develop an exhaustive range of
questions in the Royal College’s new format. They have taken utmost care to perfectly match
the questions with the Paper 2 syllabus, and to the levels of complexity and the topic-wise
breakdown of questions in the real exams. They have organized the questions in fi ve mutually
exclusive chapters in a way that would facilitate focused learning. Finally, they provide detailed,
well-researched and referenced explanatory answers for every question. Thus, they have made
this a really outstanding book.
I recommend this excellent book to candidates sitting the Paper 2 of the MRCPsych examina-
tions. I am confi dent that this book will signifi cantly increase their chances of passing at the fi rst
attempt.
Albert Michael MBBS, DPM, MD, FRCPsych, FHEA
Organizer, Cambridge MRCPsych Course
Director of Medical Education, Suffolk Mental Health Trust
April 2009
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This work began with an idea of producing an easy-to-use revision aid for the new MRCPsych
exams. The compilation, drafting and research work behind the production of these MCQs were
inspired by a number of colleagues and friends. We are thankful to all of them and we hope we
will be able to deliver what they envisaged throughout the making of this book.
Prof Rajarathinam inspired LP to take up psychiatry—not only as a profession to practice, but an
experience to cherish and impart. If this book helps at least one motivated trainee to sustain his
interest and take him closer to practicing psychiatry as a profession lifelong, we will rejoice that
Prof. Rajarathinam’s effort has not been wasted.
Dr Thambirajah helped us throughout the production of this book. Dr Kopal Tandon reviewed
the genetics chapter and we are grateful for her thoughtful comments. Dr Niruj Ahuja from
Newcastle helped us to ensure delivery of accurate facts based on high quality of evidence
while preparing the chapter on epidemiology. Numerous trainees from Newcastle, Derby and
Nottingham helped us to constantly revise the content through their fi rst hand experience of the
exam. A special thanks to Dr Albert Michael for writing the foreword.
Heartfelt thanks to Priya and Sindhu. Their patience with our late working nights and sacrifi ce of
almost all 52 weekends of the last calendar year were phenomenal contributions to this book.
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CONTENTS
Introduction 1
1 Psychiatric genetics
Questions 9
Answers 27
2 Epidemiology
Questions 49
Answers 65
3 Advanced psychology
Questions 83
Answers 99
4 Pharmacology
Questions 117
Answers 137
5 Neurosciences
Questions 161
Answers 191
Index 227
