All Practice Exams

100+ Free Arab Board Psychiatry Part 1 Practice Questions

Pass your Arab Board Psychiatry Part 1 Written Examination exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
100+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Sample Arab Board Psychiatry Part 1 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Arab Board Psychiatry Part 1 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A 24-year-old man reports that he can hear two or more voices discussing him in the third person, commenting on his actions as he performs them. Which term best describes this phenomenon?
A.Thought echo
B.Running commentary auditory hallucination
C.Gedankenlautwerden
D.Functional hallucination
Explanation: Third-person voices that comment on the patient's actions are a running commentary, one of Schneider's first-rank symptoms classically associated with schizophrenia. The defining feature is that the voices refer to the patient as 'he' or 'she' and narrate or discuss behaviour.
2A patient believes that an external force is inserting thoughts into his mind that are not his own. This experience is best described as which passivity phenomenon?
A.Thought withdrawal
B.Thought broadcasting
C.Thought insertion
D.Thought blocking
Explanation: Thought insertion is the delusional belief that thoughts are being placed into one's mind by an external agency. It is a first-rank symptom reflecting loss of ego boundaries.
3A patient describes a vivid perception of a deceased relative standing at the foot of the bed while falling asleep. There is no associated psychopathology and the experience resolves on waking. What is this phenomenon called?
A.Hypnopompic hallucination
B.Hypnagogic hallucination
C.Extracampine hallucination
D.Pseudohallucination
Explanation: Hypnagogic hallucinations occur in the transitional state while falling asleep and are not pathological in themselves. Hypnopompic hallucinations occur on waking.
4A patient suddenly experiences a fully formed delusion arising directly from a normal perception, with no understandable connection between the two (e.g. seeing a traffic light turn red and instantly knowing he is the chosen one). What is the correct term?
A.Delusional mood
B.Delusional perception
C.Overvalued idea
D.Secondary delusion
Explanation: Delusional perception is a first-rank symptom in which a real perception is given a delusional meaning with no logical link. It is a two-stage process: a normal percept followed by a delusional interpretation.
5During a mental state examination a patient's speech jumps between loosely connected topics, and on questioning the links are not understandable to the interviewer. This formal thought disorder is best termed:
A.Flight of ideas
B.Circumstantiality
C.Loosening of associations
D.Perseveration
Explanation: Loosening of associations (derailment) describes a loss of the normal logical connections between ideas, producing speech that is difficult to follow. It is characteristic of schizophrenia.
6A patient with depression believes, against all evidence, that her internal organs have rotted away and no longer exist. This nihilistic delusion is characteristic of which syndrome?
A.Cotard syndrome
B.Capgras syndrome
C.Fregoli syndrome
D.Ekbom syndrome
Explanation: Cotard syndrome is characterised by nihilistic delusions, most severely the belief that one is dead or that body parts or organs have ceased to exist. It is most often seen in severe depression.
7A patient with chronic schizophrenia repeats the interviewer's words back exactly when asked questions. What is this sign called?
A.Echopraxia
B.Echolalia
C.Logoclonia
D.Palilalia
Explanation: Echolalia is the automatic repetition of words or phrases spoken by another person. It is seen in schizophrenia (particularly catatonia), autism and some organic disorders.
8Which of the following is a recognised negative symptom of schizophrenia rather than a positive symptom?
A.Persecutory delusions
B.Auditory hallucinations
C.Avolition
D.Thought disorder
Explanation: Avolition (loss of motivation and goal-directed behaviour) is a core negative symptom of schizophrenia, alongside alogia, affective flattening, anhedonia and asociality. Negative symptoms reflect a loss of normal function.
9According to ICD-11, what is the minimum duration of characteristic symptoms required to diagnose schizophrenia?
A.One week
B.One month
C.Three months
D.Six months
Explanation: ICD-11 requires symptoms to be present for at least one month for a diagnosis of schizophrenia. This contrasts with DSM-5-TR, which requires continuous signs for at least six months (including prodromal or residual periods).
10A 30-year-old develops a clear-cut psychosis with delusions that began abruptly and fully resolved within two weeks, with no evidence of a mood disorder or substance use. Which ICD-11 diagnosis is most appropriate?
A.Schizophrenia
B.Acute and transient psychotic disorder
C.Delusional disorder
D.Schizoaffective disorder
Explanation: Acute and transient psychotic disorder is characterised by abrupt onset of psychotic symptoms, often with rapidly changing content, that resolve within a short period (within about three months and typically much sooner). The two-week resolution here fits best.

About the Arab Board Psychiatry Part 1 Exam

The Arab Board Psychiatry Part 1 examination is the written knowledge assessment in the Arab Board postgraduate psychiatry training pathway, administered by the Arab Board of Health Specializations across Arab League countries including the UAE. It is a single best-of-five single-best-answer MCQ paper of approximately 150 questions completed in about three hours, testing descriptive psychopathology, the major disorder groups, psychopharmacology, and relevant ethics and law.

Assessment

A single written paper of approximately 150 best-of-five single-best-answer MCQs in a clinical-vignette style, covering the basic sciences and core clinical knowledge of psychiatry.

Time Limit

Approximately 3 hours for the written paper

Passing Score

ABHS does not publish a single official pass percentage for the written paper; a threshold of around 60% is commonly reported by candidates. Confirm the current standard with your training centre or national Arab Board office.

Exam Fee

Fees are set by ABHS and the relevant national council and vary by country and year. Verify the current examination and registration fees locally. (Arab Board of Health Specializations (ABHS))

Arab Board Psychiatry Part 1 Exam Content Outline

16%

Descriptive Psychopathology and Phenomenology

Delusions, hallucinations, thought disorder, first-rank symptoms, mental state examination terms and defence mechanisms.

14%

Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia, delusional disorder, acute and transient psychosis, catatonia, aetiology and first-episode management.

13%

Mood Disorders

Depression, bipolar disorder, mania and hypomania, perinatal mood disorders, ECT and neurobiology.

20%

Psychopharmacology

Antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilisers, lithium toxicity, NMS, serotonin syndrome and side effects.

9%

Anxiety, OCD and Trauma Disorders

Panic disorder, generalised anxiety, OCD, PTSD and complex PTSD with first-line treatment.

8%

Substance Use Disorders

Alcohol withdrawal, delirium tremens, Wernicke-Korsakoff and opioid and stimulant misuse.

5%

Personality Disorders

Categorical subtypes, the ICD-11 dimensional model and dialectical behaviour therapy.

5%

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, eating disorders and refeeding syndrome.

6%

Old-Age and Organic Neuropsychiatry

Delirium, dementia subtypes, pseudodementia and organic causes of psychiatric symptoms.

4%

Risk Assessment, Ethics and Law

Suicide risk, capacity, consent, confidentiality and mental health law principles.

How to Pass the Arab Board Psychiatry Part 1 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: ABHS does not publish a single official pass percentage for the written paper; a threshold of around 60% is commonly reported by candidates. Confirm the current standard with your training centre or national Arab Board office.
  • Assessment: A single written paper of approximately 150 best-of-five single-best-answer MCQs in a clinical-vignette style, covering the basic sciences and core clinical knowledge of psychiatry.
  • Time limit: Approximately 3 hours for the written paper
  • Exam fee: Fees are set by ABHS and the relevant national council and vary by country and year. Verify the current examination and registration fees locally.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Arab Board Psychiatry Part 1 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master descriptive psychopathology and phenomenology terminology early, because precise definitions of delusions, hallucinations and thought disorder underpin many vignette questions.
2Build a clear mental map of psychopharmacology, especially lithium toxicity and monitoring, neuroleptic malignant syndrome versus serotonin syndrome, and extrapyramidal side effects, as these are high-yield.
3Practise timed best-of-five clinical vignettes and revise the differences between ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR, since classification distinctions are commonly tested.

Frequently Asked Questions

What format is the Arab Board Psychiatry Part 1 written exam?

It is a single written paper of best-of-five single-best-answer multiple-choice questions, widely reported as around 150 questions completed in about three hours. Most items are clinical-vignette style, asking you to select the single best answer from five options.

What is the passing score for the Arab Board psychiatry written exam?

The Arab Board of Health Specializations does not publish a single fixed official pass percentage. Candidates commonly report a threshold of around 60%, but you should confirm the current standard with your training centre or national Arab Board office.

Which classification systems should I know for the exam?

You should be comfortable with the diagnostic concepts in ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR, including differences such as the one-month symptom requirement for schizophrenia in ICD-11 versus six months in DSM-5-TR, and the ICD-11 dimensional model of personality disorder.

Is this practice bank specific to the UAE?

The Arab Board exam is a single regional qualification administered across Arab League countries including the UAE through national councils, so this bank reflects the shared Arab Board psychiatry syllabus rather than UAE-only content.