100+ Free CAQ-Psychiatry Practice Questions

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Which medications are FDA approved for PTSD?

Mirtazapine and trazodone

Quetiapine and risperidone

Venlafaxine and bupropion

Sertraline and paroxetine

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CAQ-Psychiatry Exam

120

Total Items

NCCPA CAQ

3 hrs

Exam Time

NCCPA

$350

Exam Fee

NCCPA

3,000 hrs

Practice Required

Prior 6 yrs psych-PA

NCCPA CAQ-Psychiatry is the PA subspecialty credential for psychiatry. 120 items, 3 hours, $350. Eligibility: 3,000 hours psych practice + 150 psych CME. Master DSM-5-TR criteria, SSRI/SNRI selection, antipsychotic side-effect profiles (clozapine ANC monitoring, EPS), lithium monitoring, suicide risk stratification, and CIWA/COWS for withdrawal.

Sample CAQ-Psychiatry Practice Questions

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

1What is the minimum duration of symptoms required to diagnose major depressive disorder per DSM-5-TR?

A.1 week

B.2 weeks

C.1 month

D.6 weeks

Explanation: DSM-5-TR requires at least 2 weeks of depressed mood or anhedonia plus additional symptoms (≥5 total) to meet MDD criteria.

2A PHQ-9 score of 18 indicates which severity of depression?

A.Mild

B.Moderate

C.Moderately severe

D.Severe

Explanation: PHQ-9 scoring: 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, 20–27 severe. A score of 18 is moderately severe depression.

3Which definition best describes treatment-resistant depression?

A.Failure of one antidepressant trial

B.Failure of two adequate antidepressant trials of different classes

C.Lack of response to psychotherapy alone

D.Symptoms persisting beyond 6 months

Explanation: Treatment-resistant depression is generally defined as failure to respond to at least two adequate trials of antidepressants from different classes at therapeutic dose and duration.

4Postpartum depression with onset of symptoms must occur within what timeframe to meet the DSM-5-TR peripartum-onset specifier?

A.During pregnancy or within 4 weeks postpartum

B.Within 6 months postpartum

C.Within 12 months postpartum

D.At any point during the first year

Explanation: DSM-5-TR's peripartum-onset specifier requires onset of mood symptoms during pregnancy or within 4 weeks following delivery.

5Which feature distinguishes bipolar I from bipolar II disorder?

A.Presence of full manic episode

B.Presence of psychotic features

C.Presence of rapid cycling

D.Presence of mixed episodes

Explanation: Bipolar I requires at least one full manic episode (≥7 days or hospitalization). Bipolar II features hypomania plus major depression but never a full mania.

6What is the therapeutic serum lithium level for maintenance therapy in bipolar disorder?

A.0.2–0.5 mEq/L

B.0.6–1.2 mEq/L

C.1.5–2.0 mEq/L

D.2.0–2.5 mEq/L

Explanation: Therapeutic lithium maintenance level is 0.6–1.2 mEq/L. Acute mania often targets 0.8–1.2; toxicity occurs above 1.5 mEq/L.

7A patient on lamotrigine develops a confluent rash with mucosal involvement. What is the most appropriate next step?

A.Continue lamotrigine and add antihistamine

B.Reduce lamotrigine dose by 50%

C.Discontinue lamotrigine immediately and evaluate for SJS

D.Switch to extended-release formulation

Explanation: Mucosal involvement signals possible Stevens–Johnson syndrome. Lamotrigine must be discontinued immediately and the patient evaluated emergently. Slow titration helps prevent SJS but does not eliminate the risk.

8Which feature is most characteristic of melancholic depression?

A.Mood reactivity to positive events

B.Hyperphagia and hypersomnia

C.Loss of pleasure in all activities and worse mood in the morning

D.Seasonal pattern

Explanation: Melancholic features include profound anhedonia, distinct quality of mood, diurnal variation worse in morning, early morning awakening, marked psychomotor changes, anorexia, and excessive guilt.

9A patient with bipolar I disorder presents with depressive symptoms plus three concurrent manic symptoms. This best fits which specifier?

A.Rapid cycling

B.Mixed features

C.Atypical features

D.Catatonic features

Explanation: DSM-5-TR's 'with mixed features' specifier requires symptoms of the opposite pole concurrently with the predominant episode (e.g., depression with ≥3 manic/hypomanic symptoms).

10Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is defined by how many mood episodes within 12 months?

A.≥2

B.≥3

C.≥4

D.≥6

Explanation: Rapid cycling requires ≥4 mood episodes (depressive, manic, or hypomanic) within a 12-month period.

About the CAQ-Psychiatry Exam

NCCPA Certificate of Added Qualifications in Psychiatry — for PAs in psychiatric practice. Covers DSM-5-TR mood, anxiety/OCD, psychotic, trauma/stressor, substance use, neurocognitive, eating/sleep/sexual, and personality disorders, plus psychopharmacology, child/adolescent psychiatry, risk assessment (suicide/violence), and professional practice.

Questions

120 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

Scaled (NCCPA-set)

Exam Fee

$350 (NCCPA)

CAQ-Psychiatry Exam Content Outline

18%

Mood Disorders

MDD (DSM-5-TR ≥2 weeks), bipolar I/II, persistent depressive, peripartum depression

12%

Substance Use Disorders

AUD (CIWA, naltrexone/acamprosate), OUD (buprenorphine/methadone, COWS), tobacco

12%

Anxiety / OCD-Related

GAD, panic, social phobia, OCD (Y-BOCS), specific phobias, hoarding, BDD

10%

Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia (≥6 months), brief psychotic, schizoaffective, schizophreniform

Trauma & Stressor

PTSD (DSM-5-TR criteria), acute stress, adjustment, prolonged grief disorder

Psychopharmacology

SSRI/SNRI, mood stabilizers (Li, VPA, lamotrigine), antipsychotics (atypical, clozapine)

Neurocognitive Disorders

Alzheimer, vascular, FTD, DLB (REM behavior, parkinsonism), delirium vs dementia

Child / Adolescent Psychiatry

ADHD, autism (DSM-5-TR ASD levels), ODD/CD, adolescent depression/suicidality

Eating, Sleep, Sexual

Anorexia, bulimia, BED, insomnia, OSA, sexual dysfunction, gender dysphoria

Risk, Crisis & Professional Practice

Suicide risk stratification (Columbia), Tarasoff, capacity, involuntary commitment

Personality Disorders

DSM-5-TR clusters A/B/C, BPD (DBT), antisocial, narcissistic, OCPD

How to Pass the CAQ-Psychiatry Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Scaled (NCCPA-set)
Exam length: 120 questions
Time limit: 3 hours
Exam fee: $350

Keys to Passing

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

CAQ-Psychiatry Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize DSM-5-TR criteria for MDD, GAD, PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar I/II, AUD, OUD

2Know clozapine REMS ANC monitoring schedule and metabolic monitoring for atypicals

3Drill SSRI selection and serotonin syndrome (clonus, hyperreflexia, autonomic instability)

4Master CIWA-Ar (alcohol withdrawal) and COWS (opioid withdrawal) scoring + treatment

5Apply Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and Tarasoff duty-to-warn principles

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the DSM-5-TR criteria for major depressive disorder?

DSM-5-TR MDD: ≥5 of 9 SIGECAPS+M (Sleep, Interest/anhedonia, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor, Suicidality + depressed Mood) for ≥2 weeks, including either depressed mood OR anhedonia. Symptoms cause distress/impairment, not better explained by substance/medical or bereavement. Specifiers: with anxious distress, melancholic, atypical, peripartum, seasonal, psychotic.

What labs are needed for clozapine?

Clozapine requires ANC monitoring (REMS): baseline, weekly × 6 months, then every 2 weeks × 6 months, then monthly indefinitely. Hold for ANC <1,500/µL (general population) or <1,000/µL (BEN). Other monitoring: weight/BMI, fasting glucose/lipids (metabolic syndrome), seizure risk (>600 mg/day), myocarditis (especially first 8 weeks: troponin, CRP, ECG, ECHO).

How is opioid use disorder treated?

FDA-approved MOUD: buprenorphine (partial agonist, sublingual; X-waiver eliminated 2023, any DEA prescriber may prescribe up to 30 patients), methadone (full agonist, federally regulated OTPs), naltrexone (XR-injectable, antagonist — must be opioid-free 7-10 days). Naloxone for overdose reversal (intranasal 4 mg, repeat q2-3 min). Counseling/peer support recommended adjuncts.

How should I study for CAQ-Psychiatry?

Plan 80-120 hours over 10-14 weeks. Work the NCCPA CAQ Psychiatry content blueprint, drill weighted-domain practice questions, complete required Category 1 CME, and submit experience requirements (typically ≥3,000 hours specialty practice in the prior 6 years and ≥150 specialty CME) before sitting the exam.