INI-CET Psychiatry: Important MCQ Questions for Aspirants

Psychiatry questions in postgraduate medical entrance examinations often test your ability to identify symptoms, distinguish between similar disorders, and recall important clinical concepts. Topics such as depression, mood disorders, postpartum conditions, psychological assessment, and antidepressant treatment are useful areas to revise.

Instead of memorising answers alone, focus on understanding why an option is correct and why the other options are unsuitable. The following INI-CET Psychiatry MCQs use the questions you shared, with rewritten explanations to support revision.

Important INI-CET Psychiatry MCQs with Answers

These INI-CET Psychiatry MCQs cover important concepts related to depression, mood disorders, suicide risk, and antidepressant treatment. Practise each question and review the explanations to strengthen your understanding of commonly tested psychiatric topics. 

1. Which of the following options is associated with depression?

A. Decreased GABA and decreased acetylcholine

B. Decreased levels of norepinephrine and decreased levels of serotonin (5-HT)

C. Increased norepinephrine and GABA, with decreased serotonin (5-HT)

Correct Answer: B. Decreased levels of norepinephrine and decreased levels of serotonin (5-HT)

Explanation: The classical monoamine hypothesis associates depression with altered monoamine neurotransmission, particularly involving serotonin and norepinephrine.

2. Which of the following statements is true about cyclothymic disorder?

A. Double depression is seen

B. Alternate episodes of hypomania and moderate depression

C. Also known as depressive neurosis

D. Resistant depression is seen

Correct Answer: B. Alternate episodes of hypomania and depressive symptoms

Explanation: Cyclothymic disorder involves chronic fluctuations between hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms that do not meet the full criteria for major depressive or manic episodes.

3. A 26-year-old female visits the psychiatric OPD with complaints of very low mood for the last 7–8 months and an inability to enjoy previously pleasurable activities. What are these symptoms known as?

A. Apathy

B. Amotivation

C. Avolition

D. Anhedonia

Correct Answer: D. Anhedonia

Explanation: Anhedonia refers to a reduced ability to experience pleasure from activities that were previously enjoyable. Apathy involves reduced motivation or emotional engagement, while avolition refers to difficulty initiating goal-directed activities.

4. A 36-year-old male patient is rushed to the hospital with a self-inflicted stab wound. On evaluation, he is found to have a history of bipolar I disorder and admits to suicidal intent. He had been taking valproic acid for four years but stopped the medication two months ago. Which of the following best distinguishes mania from depression when determining treatment for the acute mood episode?

A. Quality of mood

B. Altered levels of activity

C. Presence of known pathophysiology

D. None of the above

Correct Answer: A. Quality of mood

Explanation: Mania is commonly associated with elevated, expansive or irritable mood, whereas depression involves depressed mood or loss of interest and pleasure. Changes in activity can occur in both conditions.

5. A 60-year-old man is diagnosed with depression accompanied by anxiety, psychomotor agitation, restlessness, somatic concerns, hypochondriacal ideas, occasional delusions, insomnia, anorexia and weight loss. This classification of depression is not recognised as a separate psychiatric disorder in DSM-5. What is it called?

A. Atypical depression

B. Anaclitic depression

C. Involutional melancholia

D. No depression presents with these features

Correct Answer: C. Involutional melancholia

Explanation: Involutional melancholia is a historical term associated with late-onset depression and symptoms such as agitation, anxiety and somatic concerns. It is not recognised as a separate psychiatric disorder in DSM-5.

6. A 70-year-old woman was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer four months ago. Since then, she has lost 15 kg, experiences low energy and wakes frequently during the night. She also feels persistent guilt about people she was rude to in the past and repeatedly says she will die in pain. Which symptom most strongly suggests a major depressive episode rather than a normal reaction to a life-limiting illness?

A. Preoccupation with feelings of guilt

B. Weight loss

C. Fear of dying in pain

D. Decreased energy

Correct Answer: A. Preoccupation with feelings of guilt

Explanation: Weight loss and decreased energy may be related to advanced cancer, while fear of dying in pain may be an understandable concern. Persistent, excessive or disproportionate guilt can be a stronger indicator of depression.

7. In a 56-year-old male patient, a self-rating scale is used to evaluate depression. What is the most suitable test?

A. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)

B. Rorschach test

C. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)

D. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Correct Answer: A. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)

Explanation: The Beck Depression Inventory is a self-report instrument used to assess depressive symptoms. The Rorschach test and TAT are projective assessment methods, while WISC assesses cognitive abilities in children.

8. In elderly patients, depression may be treated with which of the following medicines?

A. Mianserin

B. Fluoxetine

C. Imipramine

D. Dothiepin

Correct Answer: B. Fluoxetine

Explanation: Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). SSRIs generally have fewer anticholinergic effects than tricyclic antidepressants, although the choice of medicine should be individualised according to the patient's health conditions and other medications.

9. What is the approximate incidence of postpartum blues?

A. 50%

B. 15%

C. 0.2%

D. None of the above

Correct Answer: A. 50%

Explanation: Postpartum blues are common, usually temporary emotional changes following childbirth. Persistent or severe symptoms require assessment for postpartum depression or another mental health condition.

10. Which of the following is a major risk factor for suicide?

A. Depression

B. Schizophrenia

C. Substance abuse

D. Borderline personality disorder

Correct Answer: A. Depression

Explanation: Depression is strongly associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Schizophrenia, substance-use disorders, and borderline personality disorder are also associated with increased suicide risk. Individual risk depends on several clinical and personal factors.

Download INI-CET Psychiatry Important MCQ Questions

Students can access important INI-CET Psychiatry MCQs and study materials through the PW Med Ed App for quick revision and practice.

Download the PW Med Ed App today to access study resources and support your INI-CET preparation.

How to Use INI-CET Psychiatry MCQ Questions Effectively

Practising MCQs regularly can help you identify knowledge gaps and revise important Psychiatry concepts. Use the following tips to improve your understanding and make your INI-CET preparation more effective. 

1. Understand psychiatric symptoms

Learn the differences between anhedonia, apathy, amotivation, and avolition. Anhedonia refers to reduced ability to experience pleasure, while avolition involves difficulty initiating goal-directed activities.

2. Compare mood disorders

Revise the features of depression, mania and cyclothymic disorder. Pay attention to mood quality, symptom duration and severity rather than relying on one symptom alone.

3. Revise antidepressants

Study antidepressants by their drug class, therapeutic use, and adverse effects. Remember the differences between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), especially their anticholinergic effects.

4. Learn psychological assessment tools

Understand the purpose of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Rorschach test, Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC).

5. Review incorrect answers

Maintain a list of incorrect answers, revise the underlying concepts, and attempt those questions again. This helps you identify recurring mistakes and direct your revision towards weaker topics.

INI-CET Psychiatry MCQs provide an opportunity to revise depression, mood disorders, postpartum conditions, suicide risk, psychological assessment, and antidepressant treatment. Focus on the clinical clues that distinguish related conditions and the reasoning behind each correct answer.

Practise these questions alongside standard Psychiatry textbooks and diagnostic references. Revisit incorrect answers and use them to identify concepts that need additional revision.

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