Psych Shelf Exam

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Books Preferred for Psych Shelf Exam

  • BRS

    Votes: 2 3.2%

  • Blueprints

    Votes: 15 23.8%

  • Appleton and Lange

    Votes: 16 25.4%

  • Boards and Wards

    Votes: 4 6.3%

  • PreTest

    Votes: 14 22.2%

  • NMS

    Votes: 6 9.5%

  • High Yield

    Votes: 6 9.5%
  • Total voters
    63
  • Poll closed .
Doctor4Life1769 said:
I'm currently 2 weeks out from my shelf exam in psych. I've gone through FA for Psych x 2; however, I am going through the Pre-Test questions and the results thru 3 blocks of questions have been 70% each. I am finding that there are a decent number of esoteric and random Qs not found in FA for Psych. Did Pre-Test help at all or should I put it aside and roll with Lange, Kaplan QBook, and UW?

When going through FA for Psych, how should I approach it so that I may have better retention? Thanks!
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The questions in A&L are pretty esoteric/random as well. The percentages I was getting on the questions didn't reflect at all on my actual grade. Just use the questions to study.
 
Cliff Huxtable said:
What is a good resource to use for the questions about drugs??
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I actually thought blueprints had some nice chapters about the drugs. But I assume any review book will give you all you need to know drug-wise. I just then made lists over and over again to make sure I remembered the important drugs in each category, their uses, and the common side effects.
 
Which sections in Lange were high yield? Pedi, you are right, TONS of esoteric Qs (moreso than Pre-Test even). I am currently wanting to stab myself in the face going through the questions on Psychology Treatment and Management. Is Pre-Test overall better to use for studying or is Lange better? I made it thru all of Pre-Test averaging in the 70s. Gonna do QBook and then UW later this weekend.
 
I Just Took it,

I used primarily Andreason and Black's "Introduction to Psychiatry" during the rotation itself, then read FA x 2 the week before the shelf. I did all the UWORLD questions (% in the high 70's) and a few sections of the A & L questions.

I Thought the test was pretty reasonable. I finished with almost 30 minutes to go back and check my answers which is a first for these shelf exams. I only had a few questions of Schizophrenia, which were very easy. I had a ton of MDD Vs. Adjustment questions that i thought were actually pretty difficult to determine. There was surprisingly few pharm questions, and I did have at least 3 "legal" questions.

Hope this helps, I'll post my score in 3 weeks assuming its reasonable. I'm really hoping for 85+
 
Doctor4Life1769 said:
Which sections in Lange were high yield? Pedi, you are right, TONS of esoteric Qs (moreso than Pre-Test even). I am currently wanting to stab myself in the face going through the questions on Psychology Treatment and Management. Is Pre-Test overall better to use for studying or is Lange better? I made it thru all of Pre-Test averaging in the 70s. Gonna do QBook and then UW later this weekend.
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Honestly, I think the highest yield think you can do, if you haven't already, is go through Case Files. Otherwise, I think any question is a good question, and just keep on chuggin'.
 
Honestly First Aid for Psych and World is more than enough. Just know those well. Some residual step 1 knowledge like all shelves was helpful. Pharm was minimal.

98 Raw. I've seen the highest raw scores on this test. I thought they were all supposed to be based on a similar scale.
 
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Here's what I used:

FA Psych (read through it once, then looked up stuff randomly)
Clinical Current Strategies Psychiatry Handbook
Clinical Current Strategies Psychiatric Drugs Handbook (both of these handbooks are nice and thin, excellent for wards reading)

Qs:
UWorld - there was a lot of ethics questions lumped in here for step 2, but there wasn't really ethics on the shelf.
Pretest - Decent
A&L - Decent, except you don't have to memorize all those specific tests (like Gestalt-Bender, etc). The tests in the back were great.
Kaplan qbook - two 50-Q tests. Decent.

I learn by just doing lots of questions. I only read FA once and it was pretty fast so I don't think I picked up much.

Score: 99
 
I used a similar strategy as above. Read First Aid for psych and did a lot of questions. Kaplan, A&L, Pretest, USMLE World (in that order). I took the test today and surprisingly found it to be a lot harder than expected :scared: As I was doing practice questions it seemed like there was a lot of contradiction between different sources in terms of the first-line treatments for certain disorders so there were some confusing questions on the exam when it seemed like multiple answers would have been my first choice. Will update when the score comes back...
 
kdburton said:
I used a similar strategy as above. Read First Aid for psych and did a lot of questions. Kaplan, A&L, Pretest, USMLE World (in that order). I took the test today and surprisingly found it to be a lot harder than expected :scared: As I was doing practice questions it seemed like there was a lot of contradiction between different sources in terms of the first-line treatments for certain disorders so there were some confusing questions on the exam when it seemed like multiple answers would have been my first choice. Will update when the score comes back...
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Wow - thats the longest I've waited to get a shelf score back. 94 raw 96th percentile. Pretty pumped
 
How much developmental theory is on the pysch shelf exam? I just took the PreTest chapter questions on it and got my ***** handed to me, is that a big part of the test or is it nothing to worry about? We have not gone over much developmental stuff during the rotation and its not really in FA for psych, so just wondering if its worth spending time worrying about all the theorists and the developmental milestones? Thanks
 
dav86 said:
How much developmental theory is on the pysch shelf exam? I just took the PreTest chapter questions on it and got my ***** handed to me, is that a big part of the test or is it nothing to worry about? We have not gone over much developmental stuff during the rotation and its not really in FA for psych, so just wondering if its worth spending time worrying about all the theorists and the developmental milestones? Thanks
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I had 0 questions on it and did not study it at all. I stuck with FA for Psych and Appleton and Lange questions and Psych was my best shelf of the year. :luck:
 
Just took this, ended up feeling ambushed and hoping I didn't fail. Know your drugs: both the kind you perscribe and the illegal kind. Also know milestones in adolescent (age 10+) development, which wasn't in any of the review books I used but was covered by multiple questions.
 
Took this a few weeks back, it was my last shelf so I was burnt out and less thorough in my studying.

Resources:
- Appleton and Lange 9th Ed: 4/9 Chapters- Child and Adol, Adult Psychopathology, Somatic trmt & psychopharm, differential diagnoses
- Casefiles: All chapter summaries and some chapters in greater detail.

I worked through A&L during the rotation and CF in the two days leading up to the exam. Both were very useful. You might want to add other resources (or go through these 2 resources in greater detail) if you're doing this earlier in the year.

Score: Raw 99, 99th %ile
 
One of the easier shelf exams of the year. Make sure you can distinguish among the somatoform disorders, adjustment disorder vs. bereavement vs. depression...

I read through FA for Psych starting early in the rotation, and then completed PreTest and quickly re-read through FA right before the shelf.

Raw: 99
 
My strategy

Text: First Aid Psychiatry
Questions: A&L psych, Pretest Psych
Other: I read the NEJM articles on schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, Alz, dementia and other major psychiatric illness (keyword: major).

Raw: 98

A general anecdotal advising tip for any shelf: I have never learned well by reading cases and decided not to use any of the casefiles-type books all throughout third year and still ended up doing fine in all shelves. Try them once and if they aren't working out, don't waste your time.
 
Studied FA for psych (1X) and Lange Q & A (1st 500 q's). Took test in August. Scored a 95 NBME scaled score, 97th percentile for last year, 98th percentile for those who took it in August.
 
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Which of these is FA psych?
First Aid for the Psychiatry Clerkship
or
First Aid for the Psychiatry Boards
 
I used FA, a couple (2-3) sections of Lange questions, and the UW questions and wound up with a 98 raw score. Those sources will prepare you very well, especially if you pay attention to themes. Medications and their side effects are HUGE, so know those well. Anxiety disorders were also very big.
 
So I am set with the following:

FA Psychiatry Clerkship
Lange Q&A
Blueprints Pscyhiatry
Pre Test Psychiatry
Case Files Psychiatry

Add-on: Kaplan Psych and USMLERx Step 2 Qbank

Is there anything I should chip in? I start my clerkship in a few days and would love to hear any study strategies to shine my best👍
 
I'd just read FA and do the Lange questions. I didn't find Blueprints helpful at all and scrapped it early on. UWorld questions are awesome, too.
 
MilkmanAl said:
I used FA, a couple (2-3) sections of Lange questions, and the UW questions and wound up with a 98 raw score. Those sources will prepare you very well, especially if you pay attention to themes. Medications and their side effects are HUGE, so know those well. Anxiety disorders were also very big.
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Did you do the two practice tests at the end of Lange? Are FA and Case Files redundant or should I check out both? I heard this shelf is pretty easy but I don't want to under-prepare for it.
 
I did the child psych and psych testing sections, and I seem to recall picking through the adult psych section for geriatric stuff. I felt pretty comfortable with the rest and, frankly, just got too lazy to bother with it. The only person I know who used Case Files liked it, but I really think that FA, Lange, and UW is way more than enough. If I can get a 98 with those materials, just about anyone can.
 
Right book, wrong edition. I tend to buy old editions, and mine is the 9th. :laugh:

...Which appears to be the current edition. I see an 8th edition one for $2 on Amazon. I'm sure that'd be just fine.
 
MilkmanAl said:
Right book, wrong edition. I tend to buy old editions, and mine is the 9th. :laugh:

...Which appears to be the current edition. I see an 8th edition one for $2 on Amazon. I'm sure that'd be just fine.
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are you sure? I can't seem to find 9th edition... i'm probably just ******ed right now after my family med shelf



edit: nm , found lange Q&A 9th edition 🙂


on a side note, does the first edition of psych first aid do a good job or are there enough changes to make getting the 2nd ed. worth it.. my roommate only has the first.

and sorry last question: how are the kaplan psych notes for week 1 of the rotation as far as getting an overview vs something like blueprints.. I have a negative opinion of blueprints without knowing anymore because it sucked for FM.
 
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I have the second edition of the psych FA. I tend not to trust first editions if there's a second available, but whatever works. I don't think I'd bother with the Kaplan notes or anything. The FA will be excellent for an overview, and the 2 question sources are enough to highlight the key points. There just aren't enough topics in psych to warrant using tons of resources for the shelf.
 
I just got mine back. 94 raw.

While this might not impress the SDNites, let me say that I'm an average student (Step 1 = 215) that wants to go into Surgery and always have. So as you can imagine, Psych was a vacation month for me. I read First Aid for Psych and thumbed through Pre-test, and thought I got rocked when I left. Just picked the most clear answer. So don't get bogged down. Just use FA as a bible and you'll do fine.
 
for those that used lange, what sections are actually relevant? i just got through the first chapter, 'psychological test' which seemed really out of the blue. was that even on the shelf?
 
Used a lot of resources for the psych shelf since I had heard previously that it was difficult: Uworld, First Aid x2, Case Files, pretest, kaplan x2 and A&L

I really think that all you need is First aid + A&L.

Casefiles in my experience is the worst for me to learn from. Uworld questions which are normally good for other shelfs are not for psych (more ethics questions). Pretest series is usually pretty good but i felt that it was lacking for psych. Kaplan is always good for a quick review. Still haven't received my shelf grade so I'll update when i do.
 
Anyone else getting mauled by A&L? I struggle to do any better than 70% and ive basically done every chapter now
 
PokerDoc said:
Anyone else getting mauled by A&L? I struggle to do any better than 70% and ive basically done every chapter now
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A&L is difficult but it apparently it's good prep. I try to ignore percentages but I'm basically right there with you. I just told myself it's because I did most of the chapters w/o having finished FA.
 
First Aid x2 , Case Files x1 , and UWorld questions x1. This is more than sufficient for the shelf. 90 Raw. 95% nationally.
 
Adam638 said:
First Aid x2 , Case Files x1 , and UWorld questions x1. This is more than sufficient for the shelf. 90 Raw. 95% nationally.
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case files help you after reading FA? I found it redundant
 
Redundant yes, but found it helpful to hammer things in the last week before the exam. Also gave me a different format from the First Aid style to review things.
 
Took the shelf today... definitely the easiest one I've had so far, it was very heavy on panic disorder, sleep disorders, and medical conditions mimicking psychiatric conditions.
 
can anyone explain Bereavement vs. MDD vs. Adjustment Disorder? stepup2step2 says 6 months is the cuttoff b/w bereavement and mdd? but can you still diagnose mdd after 2 weeks even if its after death of a family member? haha i'm a bit confused, anyone have insight on this?

also, is there a good way to study the medical conditions that present as psychiatric? seems that's a running theme on this shelf...
 
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Knowing pseudodementia will get you probably 2-3 questions right on its own. I'd really just pick up a copy of FA psych and go through it to hash out the minute differences between similar things. It's a quick read and has everything you need.
 
soccerpunk60 said:
can anyone explain Bereavement vs. MDD vs. Adjustment Disorder? stepup2step2 says 6 months is the cuttoff b/w bereavement and mdd? but can you still diagnose mdd after 2 weeks even if its after death of a family member? haha i'm a bit confused, anyone have insight on this?

also, is there a good way to study the medical conditions that present as psychiatric? seems that's a running theme on this shelf...
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just knowing the psych diseases cold makes it simple to pick out when its a medical condition
 
Read FA in full once and some sections twice, did all of the A&L questions (for in class exams), UW, and Kaplan Q book tests

86, 82nd percentile.

People do really well on this shelf (I had similar raw scores on FM and Surg with percentiles in the 90's). It's not hard but just take it serious. I should have studied harder and percentile wise it was easily my lowest shelf of the year. If you need like a 90 to get honors or something, it won't be hard but you will have to earn it.
 
Sorry if this was mentioned, but is the stuff in the Human Behavior chapter (chapter 2) of PreTest tested at all on the shelf? It's a lot of stuff about specific psychoanalysts and such, and it seems pretty arcane/useless (and none of it is in First Aid, really).

Should I be wasting time on this?
 
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GuyWhoDoesStuff said:
Sorry if this was mentioned, but is the stuff in the Human Behavior chapter (chapter 2) of PreTest tested at all on the shelf? It's a lot of stuff about specific psychoanalysts and such, and it seems pretty arcane/useless (and none of it is in First Aid, really).

Should I be wasting time on this?
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I didn't have any developmental questions. I think the A&L and Pre-test questions are money. I wish I spent more time focusing on these. Reading first aid is not really worth it IMO, you need to get used to seeing psych patients in 30 different ways,
 
How are the pretest questions when compared to the shelf? I'm getting 70s-80s on them and concerned about doing well. I've used FA as my study source and did the pharm questions of Lange. Any thoughts?
 
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