So, I just took Part II Psych Boards today...

[OldPsychDoc]

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...and I'm actually looking forward to my dentist appointment tomorrow.

 

[Milo]

Congratulations on surviving! I'd love to hear the details...

i.e. type of patient, your case formulation and diagnosis you gave, emphasis on the biopsychosocial model, what kind of pimping - was it biological or psychodynamic et cetera.

 

[Anasazi23]

Yah, do tell.

We have to do these "mock boards" in front of our program director, and even those are stressful...even though we know him very well and he's a great guy.

They keep saying that anxiety is the primary reason for the huge failure rate. It just seems so damn subjective to me. They say it's for 'safety and competence,' but I find it hard to believe a >50% failure rate in those two relatively simple domains.

Take a deep breath. It's over.

Congrats!

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Yah, do tell....

Well, the stress is real...

I'm not going to comment specifically on my patients, but both the video and live patient were pretty complicated, which is to say, a lot like my average patient in daily practice! Multiple possible Axis 1 dx's, definite Axis 2 issues, and substance abuse to boot. You really have to be ready for anything.

The "pimping" wasn't bad, but I'm still stressing about whether my formulation was good enough and organized enough. The higher-ups stressed repeatedly that "everyone can pass" and "we want you to pass". My examiners were not unfriendly, but did portray the notorious lack of feedback which makes this such an other-worldly experience. Nevertheless, they fed me some questions to allow me to elaborate on things that I had found in the interview, but had skipped over in the presentation & formulation, whether due to nerves or neglect. I think that this is how it's done these days--I've heard anecdotally that someone passed even after failing to ask the patient about suicidal ideation, because when given a chance in the exam phase, they owned up to their omission and stated that they would go out and call the patient back in to specifically probe for that!

Well, here's hoping that that is done forever! Thanks for all of your kind words. (Oh and btw, no cavities--but I have to go back for extended cleanings!)

 

[mdblue]

Well, the stress is real...

I'm not going to comment specifically on my patients, but both the video and live patient were pretty complicated, which is to say, a lot like my average patient in daily practice! Multiple possible Axis 1 dx's, definite Axis 2 issues, and substance abuse to boot. You really have to be ready for anything.

The "pimping" wasn't bad, but I'm still stressing about whether my formulation was good enough and organized enough. The higher-ups stressed repeatedly that "everyone can pass" and "we want you to pass". My examiners were not unfriendly, but did portray the notorious lack of feedback which makes this such an other-worldly experience. Nevertheless, they fed me some questions to allow me to elaborate on things that I had found in the interview, but had skipped over in the presentation & formulation, whether due to nerves or neglect. I think that this is how it's done these days--I've heard anecdotally that someone passed even after failing to ask the patient about suicidal ideation, because when given a chance in the exam phase, they owned up to their omission and stated that they would go out and call the patient back in to specifically probe for that!

Well, here's hoping that that is done forever! Thanks for all of your kind words. (Oh and btw, no cavities--but I have to go back for extended cleanings!)

Good Luck.. 🙂

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Pass.

Notified only two weeks after the exam.
And without a word of feedback...

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Pass.

Notified only two weeks after the exam.
And without a word of feedback...

Looks like I'm off the hook for another ten years!

 

[PsychMD]

Congratulations!

Out of curiosity any "survivor" guilt feelings?! Don't mean to be glib re. authentic PTSD-sufferers, but I heard on occasion that kind of post-board exam "symptomatology" described, in a rather earnest manner, by some people, like "I wonder why did they pass ME, while other people that I KNOW are "better" or were just as "deserving" to pass failed?"

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Congratulations!

Out of curiosity any "survivor" guilt feelings?! Don't mean to be glib re. authentic PTSD-sufferers, but I heard on occasion that kind of post-board exam "symptomatology" described, in a rather earnest manner, by some people, like "I wonder why did they pass ME, while other people that I KNOW are "better" or were just as "deserving" to pass failed?"

So far, all 6 or 7 of those I know who took it this session did pass, so I don't have to deal with that. One of my friends is still waiting for the letter that says "we sent out the wrong results, sorry", though. 😀