SY501 Ollscoil na hÉireann
The National University of Ireland, Galway
FINAL MEDICAL EXAMINATION
PSYCHIATRY
Summer 2009
Time Allowed: Three hours
Professor C. McDonald
Professor M. Gill
Dr. L. Mannion
Dr. O. Bradley
ANSWER FOUR QUESTIONS ONLY
***PLEASE USE SEPARATE ANSWER BOOK FOR EACH QUESTION***
QUESTIONS 1 & 2 ARE COMPULSORY
Q1. Describe the aetiology and clinical symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and
discuss treatment options.
Q2. A 52-year-old man presents for assessment. He had thought about taking an overdose
that morning, but had contacted a family member for help and was brought to the
Department of Psychiatry for assessment. He gives a history of low mood and sleep
disturbance over the past 6 months and states that he has been drinking more heavily
than usual for 3-4 months. Describe the steps you would take in this assessment and
outline features you would look for in support of the possible differential diagnoses.
ANSWER TWO OF THE FOLLOWING FOUR QUESTIONS
Q3. Write short notes on:-
(a) The non-cognitive features of dementia
(b) The common causes of delirium
(c) How to test a patient’s orientation and short term memory
(d) Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome
Q4. Describe three psychiatric conditions that may be experienced by women in the post
partum period. Write brief notes regarding the appropriate treatment of two of these
conditions.
Q5. What are the core clinical features of bipolar disorder. Describe what is known about
the aetiology of this illness. What advice would you give to a patient who has recently
commenced lithium carbonate as prophylactic treatment for this illness?
Q6. (a) List 5 problems children may develop when they live with a parent who has a
severe mental illness.
(b) List 5 risk and 5 protective factors which can impact on the development of child
and adolescent mental health problems where a child has a parent with a severe
mental illness.
(c) Discuss the role of risk and protective factors in the management of child and
adolescent mental health problems.