Egyptian Board Psychiatry study plan

Build a one-page mental-status-examination checklist and use it to write full MSEs for 10 practice vignettes, scoring each against the checklist

Distinguish and define at least 30 psychopathological signs and symptoms (e.g., thought insertion, loosening of associations, derailment, neologism, confabulation, depersonalisation) with one original clinical example each

Compare the main structured diagnostic interviews and rating scales (SCID, MINI, PANSS, HAM-D, YMRS, MMSE, MoCA) by purpose, administration time and scoring cut-offs

Map the pharmacokinetics, receptor profile and key adverse effects of the first-line antipsychotics and antidepressants into a single comparison table

Explain the mechanism and management of antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms, tardive dyskinesia, NMS and metabolic syndrome from first principles

Construct a stepwise pharmacological algorithm for major depressive disorder covering SSRI, SNRI, mirtazapine, bupropion, augmentation and ECT, with dosing ranges and switching rules

Differentiate unipolar depression from bipolar depression on clinical grounds and justify why antidepressant monotherapy is avoided in bipolar disorder

Describe the initiation, titration, monitoring and toxicity management of lithium, including the factors that precipitate lithium toxicity

Outline the indications, consent process, anaesthetic considerations and cognitive adverse effects of ECT

Calculate and interpret plasma levels and half-lives for at least 5 psychotropic drugs in short worked problems

Apply DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 criteria for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder to 8 written cases and defend the diagnosis in two sentences per case

Differentiate schizophrenia from brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, substance-induced psychosis and psychotic mood disorders using timeline and symptom-pattern rules

Explain the dopamine, glutamate and neurodevelopmental hypotheses of schizophrenia and how each maps onto treatment targets

Select and justify antipsychotic choice for first-episode psychosis, treatment resistance and clozapine eligibility, including mandatory blood monitoring

Recognise and manage catatonia, including the lorazepam challenge and ECT indications

Distinguish GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, OCD and PTSD by core maintaining mechanisms rather than surface symptoms, using 10 brief vignettes

Describe the theoretical basis and session structure of CBT for anxiety disorders, exposure and response prevention for OCD, and trauma-focused CBT or EMDR for PTSD

Explain the first-line pharmacological treatment of each anxiety and OCD presentation, including adequate trial duration and augmentation options

Compare psychodynamic, supportive, interpersonal and family interventions by indication and evidence base

Identify and correct common therapist errors in exposure hierarchies and cognitive restructuring

Apply developmental norms to distinguish normal variation from pathology in children aged 3 to 16 across at least 6 domains

Describe assessment and management of ADHD, autism spectrum disorder and disruptive behaviour disorders, including when and how to use stimulants and behavioural parent training

Interpret cognitive screening results in older adults and differentiate delirium, mild cognitive impairment and dementia by onset, course and attention profile

Explain the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and their non-pharmacological first-line management before antipsychotic use

Review the risks of polypharmacy, anticholinergic burden and falls in older adults and propose deprescribing steps for 3 cases

Apply validated screening tools and DSM-5-TR criteria to identify substance intoxication, withdrawal and substance-induced psychiatric syndromes for alcohol, opioids, cannabis and stimulants

Outline medically safe withdrawal management for alcohol and opioids, including thiamine, benzodiazepine tapering and opioid substitution principles

Describe relapse-prevention models (motivational interviewing, CBT, twelve-step facilitation) and match them to stages of change

Assess suicide risk in the emergency setting using a structured framework and document a defensible risk formulation

Manage acute agitation, delirium and self-harm presentations in the general hospital, including when to use rapid tranquillisation and physical restraint

Apply the core elements of valid consent, confidentiality and its limits, and involuntary admission criteria to 6 ethics scenarios

Explain the psychiatrist's duties in fitness to stand trial, criminal responsibility and risk-of-harm assessments, and how to write a clear court-ready opinion

Identify common boundary violations and conflicts of interest and state the correct response for each

Interpret incidence, prevalence, relative risk and standardised mortality ratio in mental health epidemiology and compute each from short data sets

Describe the principles of community mental health service design, task-shifting and integration into primary care, with attention to low-resource settings

Complete a timed 150-question mixed mock examination under exam conditions and record accuracy by domain

Review every missed question and write the correct reasoning in one sentence, tagging the underlying knowledge gap

Re-drill the three weakest domains with focused vignette practice until accuracy exceeds 75 percent in each

Rehearse concise structured oral answers to 10 high-yield viva-style questions on mood, psychotic and anxiety disorders