100+ Free Facharzt FMH Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Practice Questions
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Key Facts: Facharzt FMH Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Exam
FAP I + FAP II
Exam Format
SIWF / SGPP Examination Regulations
100+ MCQs
Written FAP I Questions
SGPP Examination Committee
6 Years
Postgraduate Training
SIWF Weiterbildungsprogramm
180 min
Written FAP I Duration
SGPP Examination Standard
Lifetime
FMH Title Validity
Swiss Medical Association (FMH)
100
Practice Questions
OpenExamPrep
The Facharzt FMH Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie credential certifies specialist psychiatrists and psychotherapists in Switzerland through SIWF and SGPP. Examination assessment consists of the written FAP I MCQ examination and the FAP II psychotherapy case thesis defense, spanning clinical psychopathology, psychopharmacology, psychotherapy models, emergencies, and Swiss adult protection law (KESB/FU).
Sample Facharzt FMH Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your Facharzt FMH Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A 54-year-old bank executive presents with a 7-week history of profound pervasive low mood, distinct lack of emotional reactivity, waking daily at 03:30 (more than 2 hours before his usual alarm) with severe morning exacerbation of depressive symptoms, psychomotor retardation, marked anorexia with a 6 kg weight loss, and excessive feelings of guilt regarding minor administrative oversights at work. He denies psychotic symptoms. According to ICD-10 (F32.2) and DSM-5 criteria, what is the most accurate diagnostic specification for this episode?
2A 42-year-old woman with unipolar major depressive disorder has failed to achieve clinical remission despite sequential 8-week trials of escitalopram (20 mg/day) and venlafaxine extended-release (225 mg/day), both taken with verified therapeutic compliance and confirmed therapeutic plasma levels on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). She meets criteria for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). According to Swiss Society of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (SGPP) and WFSBP guidelines, which evidence-based pharmacological strategy has the highest level of empirical evidence for next-step augmentation?
3A 38-year-old man with treatment-resistant unipolar depression is being evaluated for intranasal esketamine (Spravato) therapy in a Swiss psychiatric outpatient clinic. Which of the following clinical monitoring requirements and Swissmedic-approved administration protocols is mandatory during each treatment session?
4A 29-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by the police after climbing onto the roof of a municipal building in Zurich, shouting that he has been appointed by the federal council to eliminate the national debt. He has slept 1 hour per night for 6 days, speaks with intense pressure, displays racing thoughts and grandiosity, and has spent CHF 45,000 on luxury watches within 48 hours. Physical exam and drug screen are negative. According to SGPP and CANMAT guidelines, what is the most appropriate first-line pharmacotherapeutic approach?
5A 34-year-old woman presents with severe fatigue, profound anhedonia, hypersomnia, and feelings of worthlessness for 4 weeks. Careful psychiatric history reveals two previous distinct 4-day episodes of elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, uncharacteristic talkativeness, and increased goal-directed productivity that did not cause hospitalization or psychotic symptoms. She is diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder, current episode depressed. Which of the following pharmacotherapies has the strongest evidence-based indication as first-line monotherapy for acute bipolar II depression?
6A 48-year-old man with bipolar I disorder has been stabilized on lithium carbonate for 3 years without relapse. He attends his routine outpatient follow-up. According to international and Swiss psychiatric standards, what is the recommended timing for drawing blood to measure the 12-hour standardized serum lithium trough concentration, and what is the optimal target therapeutic range for long-term maintenance?
7A 58-year-old patient who has taken lithium carbonate for 15 years presents for annual laboratory surveillance. Which set of organ systems is most susceptible to chronic lithium-induced toxicity and mandates routine laboratory monitoring (e.g., every 6–12 months)?
8A 65-year-old woman on chronic lithium maintenance (0.8 mmol/L baseline) was recently prescribed hydrochlorothiazide and ibuprofen for hypertension and osteoarthritis by her general practitioner. She is admitted to the emergency department with severe coarse tremor, ataxia, dysarthria, hyperreflexia, confusion, and oliguria. Serum lithium level returns at 3.4 mmol/L, with creatinine elevated at 280 mcmol/L (eGFR 16 mL/min). What is the definitive emergency management of choice?
9A 24-year-old woman with bipolar I disorder is being treated by her psychiatrist. She is sexually active and expresses a desire to conceive within the next 1–2 years. Under Swissmedic and European Medicines Agency (EMA) safety guidelines, what is the primary regulatory directive regarding the prescription of Sodium Valproate (Depakine) in female patients of childbearing potential?
10A 31-year-old patient with bipolar II depression is initiated on lamotrigine. The patient is already taking sodium valproate (1000 mg/day) as a mood stabilizer. How does the pharmacokinetic interaction between valproate and lamotrigine affect the dosing strategy for lamotrigine titration?
About the Facharzt FMH Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Exam
The Facharzt FMH für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie (Specialist in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy FMH) is the Swiss Federal specialist qualification conferring full independent clinical practice rights in adult psychiatry and psychotherapy across Switzerland. Overseen by the SIWF (Swiss Institute for Postgraduate and Continuous Medical Training) and the SGPP/SSPP (Swiss Society of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy), certification requires completing 6 years of postgraduate training (including 4 years of core adult psychiatry, 1 year of somatic internal medicine/neurology, and 1 year of subspecialty/elective rotations) along with an intensive structured psychotherapy curriculum (at least 360 hours of theoretical coursework, 150 hours of supervision, 50 hours of individual self-experience/Selbsterfahrung, and 4 documented long-term therapy cases). Candidates must pass both parts of the official SGPP Facharztprüfung: the written FAP I multiple-choice examination and the FAP II written case thesis and oral colloquium. Note on format and language: While the official SGPP examinations are conducted in Switzerland's national languages (German and French), this question bank represents an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation created by OpenExamPrep—not an official SGPP/SIWF exam release—designed to prepare candidates thoroughly for clinical diagnostic reasoning, evidence-based psychopharmacology, psychotherapy models (CBT, psychodynamic, systemic), psychiatric emergency management, and the Swiss legal framework (Swiss Civil Code ZGB, KESB, and Fürsorgerische Unterbringung FU/FFE Art. 426 ff.).
Assessment
Two-part specialty board examination: 1) FAP I written multiple-choice examination (≥100 MCQs testing general psychopathology, biological/pharmacological psychiatry, psychotherapy theory, and systemic/social psychiatry), and 2) FAP II written case paper (10–20 pages) with an oral case colloquium evaluated by certified SGPP specialist examiners.
Time Limit
180 minutes written FAP I examination plus 60 minutes FAP II oral colloquium
Passing Score
Criterion-referenced standard passing score on the written FAP I examination (typically ~60–65%) and a successful evaluation across all case defense criteria in the FAP II oral colloquium
Exam Fee
FAP I written exam CHF 600; FAP II case thesis and oral colloquium CHF 900; SIWF FMH title application fee CHF 1,000–2,500 (Schweizerisches Institut für ärztliche Weiter- und Fortbildung (SIWF / FMH) and Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie (SGPP / SSPP))
Facharzt FMH Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Exam Content Outline
General Psychopathology, Diagnostic Systems & Affective Disorders
AMDP psychopathological assessment system, ICD-10/ICD-11 and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, major depressive disorder subtypes (melancholic, psychotic, atypical), bipolar I and II disorders, rapid cycling, cyclothymia, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), perinatal mood disorders, and evidence-based acute and maintenance mood stabilization.
Psychotic Disorders & Schizophrenia Spectrum
First-episode psychosis evaluation, schizophrenia symptom dimensions (positive, negative, cognitive), schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, acute catatonia (Bush-Francis scale, lorazepam challenge test, ECT), treatment resistance definitions, and long-acting injectable (LAI) strategies.
Anxiety, OCD, Trauma & Stressor-Related Disorders
Panic disorder and agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD and high-dose pharmacotherapy), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD and trauma-focused modalities), complex PTSD, acute stress disorder, somatic symptom disorders, and functional neurological disorder.
Substance Use Disorders & Addiction Medicine
Alcohol withdrawal management (CIWA-Ar protocol, symptom-triggered benzodiazepines), delirium tremens, Wernicke-Korsakoff encephalopathy (parenteral thiamine protocols), relapse prevention (acamprosate, naltrexone, disulfiram), opioid agonist therapy in Switzerland (OAT: methadone, buprenorphine, diamorphine / HeGeBe), cocaine/stimulant psychosis, and behavioral addictions.
Personality Disorders, ADHD & Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Borderline personality disorder (DBT skills, MBT, crisis and safety planning), antisocial and narcissistic personality disorders, ICD-11 dimensional personality framework, adult ADHD diagnostics (WURS, DIVA) and stimulant pharmacotherapy, autism spectrum disorder in adulthood, and impulsivity management.
Gerontopsychiatry & Neurocognitive Disorders
Etiological differentiation and management of delirium (CAM criteria), Alzheimer's dementia, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia (antipsychotic hypersensitivity), frontotemporal lobar degeneration, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), normal pressure hydrocephalus, and depressive pseudodementia.
Psychopharmacology & Somatic Treatment Modalities
Mechanism of action, receptor binding, and cytochrome P450 pharmacokinetics of antidepressants, second/third-generation antipsychotics, mood stabilizers (lithium monitoring, toxicity thresholds, hemodialysis criteria, valproate teratogenicity), therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), adverse effect emergencies (extrapyramidal symptoms, akathisia, tardive dyskinesia, NMS vs serotonin syndrome), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).
Psychotherapy Models, AMDP System & Swiss Adult Protection Law (KESB / FU)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT: Socratic dialogue, behavioral activation, ERP), Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic concepts (defense mechanisms, transference, countertransference), Systemic therapy (circular questioning, genograms), Swiss Civil Code (ZGB / CC Art. 426 ff. Fürsorgerische Unterbringung FU / FFE), involuntary medical treatment protocols (Art. 433/434 ZGB), assessment of capacity of discernment (Urteilsfähigkeit Art. 16 ZGB), and adult protection authority (KESB / APEA) measures.
How to Pass the Facharzt FMH Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Criterion-referenced standard passing score on the written FAP I examination (typically ~60–65%) and a successful evaluation across all case defense criteria in the FAP II oral colloquium
- Assessment: Two-part specialty board examination: 1) FAP I written multiple-choice examination (≥100 MCQs testing general psychopathology, biological/pharmacological psychiatry, psychotherapy theory, and systemic/social psychiatry), and 2) FAP II written case paper (10–20 pages) with an oral case colloquium evaluated by certified SGPP specialist examiners.
- Time limit: 180 minutes written FAP I examination plus 60 minutes FAP II oral colloquium
- Exam fee: FAP I written exam CHF 600; FAP II case thesis and oral colloquium CHF 900; SIWF FMH title application fee CHF 1,000–2,500
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Facharzt FMH Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Facharzt FMH für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie title?
The Facharzt FMH für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie is the Swiss Federal specialist title granting full independent practice rights in adult psychiatry and psychotherapy across Switzerland. It is awarded by the SIWF / FMH in collaboration with the Swiss Society of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (SGPP / SSPP) following 6 years of postgraduate training, completion of the formal psychotherapy curriculum, and passing both parts of the SGPP Facharztprüfung.
How is the Swiss Psychiatry and Psychotherapy specialist examination (FAP) structured?
The examination comprises two mandatory parts: 1) FAP I (Teil 1): A written multiple-choice examination consisting of at least 100 MCQs covering general psychopathology, biological/pharmacological foundations, psychotherapy theory, and systemic/social psychiatry. 2) FAP II (Teil 2): A written psychotherapy case study (10–20 pages) followed by an oral colloquium in which the candidate defends the clinical conceptualization, therapeutic process, and theoretical underpinnings before certified SGPP examiners.
When can Swiss psychiatry residents register for FAP I and FAP II?
Residents are typically encouraged to sit FAP I towards the end of their third or fourth year of specialist training once the foundational psychiatric knowledge base is established. FAP II can only be taken after successfully passing FAP I and is recommended during the sixth year of training, when sufficient advanced clinical psychotherapy cases have been completed under supervision.
What are the mandatory psychotherapy curriculum requirements for the FMH title?
Candidates must complete at least 360 hours of structured theoretical psychotherapy seminars (spanning CBT, psychodynamic, or systemic modalities), 150 hours of certified clinical supervision, 50 hours of individual self-experience (Selbsterfahrung) with an accredited therapist, and at least 4 documented psychotherapeutic treatment cases totaling ≥120 therapy hours.
What Swiss legal frameworks are essential for the psychiatry board examination?
Key high-yield legal areas under the Swiss Civil Code (Zivilgesetzbuch - ZGB) include: Fürsorgerische Unterbringung (FU / FFE under Art. 426 ff. ZGB) for involuntary civil commitment; prerequisites and procedures for compulsory medical treatment (Zwangsbehandlung under Art. 433/434 ZGB); assessment of capacity of discernment (Urteilsfähigkeit under Art. 16 ZGB); adult protection curatorship measures (Beistandschaften under Art. 390 ff. ZGB); and advance healthcare directives (Patientenverfügung under Art. 370 ff. ZGB).
Why is this practice bank presented in English?
While the official SGPP examinations in Switzerland are conducted in German or French, modern psychiatric psychopharmacology, neurobiology, and international clinical trial literature are universally published in English. This OpenExamPrep bank adapts the Swiss curriculum, SIWF/SGPP requirements, and Swiss legal standards into 100 comprehensive English-language multiple-choice questions for rigorous study and international clinical benchmarking.