MRCPsych Paper 1

Written Paper Centres in the UK, Ireland and Hong Kong

The marking scheme for the MRCPsych Written Paper is available to download

The MRCPsych Paper 1 will be 3 hours long, containing 200 questions. The paper will include both ‘best answer 1 of 5’ style MCQs and EMIs.  Approximately one third of the paper will be the EMI component.

The content of the MRCPsych Paper 1 Written Paper will be the following:

Please see the breakdown below for further details.

General Adult

History and mental state examination

Cognitive assessment

Neurological examination

Assessment

Aetiology

Diagnosis

Classification

Basic Psychopharmacology

Basic psychological processes

Human psychological development

Social psychology

Description and measurement

Basic psychological treatments

Prevention of psychiatric disorder

Descriptive psychopathology

Dynamic psychopathology

History of psychiatry

Basic ethics and philosophy of psychiatry

Stigma and culture

Please find below three sample questions.

Sample questions for Paper 1

MCQ: Assessment- Persistent delusional disorders

Select one correct statement regarding persistent delusional disorder:

a)    Delusional disorder is associated with passivity phenomena

b)    Delusions must be present for at least 3 months for a diagnosis *

c)     Depressive episodes invalidate the diagnosis

d)    Persistent delusional disorder is associated with persistent hallucinations. 

e)    Somatization is an important factor in persistent delusional disorder.

MCQ: Assessment- Physical exam- Multiple sclerosis

Which one of the following eye signs is pathognomonic of multiple sclerosis?

a)  Argyll_Robertson pupil

b)  Bilateral internuclear opthalmoplegia *

c)  Holmes-Adie pupil

d)  Horner’s syndrome

e)  Kayser-Fleischer ring

MCQ: Ethics & Philosophy- Principles

Select the option that refers to the ethical principles that are widely adopted in medical practice:

a)  Beneficence, Good will and Duty

b)  Confidentiality, Consent and Justice

c)  Respect for Autonomy, Beneficence and Justice *

d)  Respect for Autonomy, Justice and Confidentiality

e)  Respect, Justice, and Consent.

Reference:  Gelder et al 2006, Shorter Oxford Textbook

(Correct answers are marked with an asterisk)

Breakdown of Paper 1

This breakdown is intended as a general guide to the content of Paper 1 and is subject to change.