Psychiatry EOR exam prep
Psychiatry is criteria-driven: know the DSM-5 thresholds, first-line pharmacology, and the emergencies (suicidality, serotonin syndrome, NMS, withdrawal).
PAEA's updated End of Rotation exams are effective as of July 27, 2026 (legacy versions run through July 2027). The Psychiatry exam (Psychiatric & Behavioral Health on PAEA's 2026 blueprint and topic list) is one of the most-changed: Clinical Intervention doubles to 20%, Health Maintenance is replaced by a 6% Professional Practice area, and trauma and sleep-wake get their own topics.
What topics does the Psychiatry EOR exam cover?
Mood disorders
Major depression, bipolar I/II, persistent depressive disorder, and treatment selection.
Anxiety & related
GAD, panic disorder, OCD, PTSD, and phobias.
Psychotic disorders
Schizophrenia spectrum, timelines (brief, schizophreniform), and antipsychotics.
Substance use & withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal/CIWA, opioids, stimulants, and intoxication syndromes.
Psychopharmacology
SSRIs/SNRIs, mood stabilizers (lithium, valproate), antipsychotic side effects.
Psychiatric emergencies
Suicidality risk assessment, serotonin syndrome vs NMS, delirium vs dementia.
Child & geriatric psychiatry
ADHD, autism spectrum, and dementia behavioral symptoms.
Personality & eating disorders
Cluster A/B/C features, anorexia vs bulimia complications.
The official PAEA Psychiatry EOR blueprint
PAEA builds each End of Rotation exam as a 100-question grid: every question sits in one clinical content area and one task area. These are PAEA's published weights (effective July 2026), and FirstPassPA's Psychiatry question sets are drawn to match them.
| Content area | Share of the exam |
|---|---|
| Depressive Disorders; Bipolar and Related Disorders | 17% |
| Substance-Related Disorders; Addictive Disorders | 15% |
| Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders; Abuse and Neglect | 13% |
| Anxiety; Somatic Symptom-Related Disorders | 11% |
| Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders | 11% |
| Feeding or Eating Disorders | 8% |
| Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Dissociative Disorders | 8% |
| Sleep-Wake Disorders | 7% |
| Human Sexuality | 5% |
| Personality Disorders; Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders | 5% |
Task areas: History & Physical 16% · Diagnostic Studies 11% · Diagnosis 20% · Clinical Intervention 20% · Clinical Therapeutics 20% · Scientific Concepts 7% · Professional Practice 6%.
PAEA's Psychiatry blueprint (PDF) · topic list (PDF) · what changed for 2026
Which topics show up most on the Psychiatry EOR?
- DSM-5 timelines (MDD 2 wks, GAD 6 mo, schizophrenia 6 mo)
- Serotonin syndrome vs NMS distinction
- Lithium toxicity signs and monitoring
- First-line agents per disorder (SSRIs broadly)
- Alcohol withdrawal timeline and treatment
- Bipolar: avoid unopposed antidepressants
- Antipsychotic EPS/metabolic side effects
- Anorexia refeeding syndrome risk
How should you study for the Psychiatry EOR?
- Memorize the DSM-5 timelines exactly — MDD 2 weeks, GAD 6 months, schizophrenia 6 months. They're tested verbatim.
- Know first-line pharmacology per disorder and the dangerous reactions — serotonin syndrome vs. NMS, and lithium toxicity.
- Don't give antidepressant monotherapy in bipolar disorder, and always screen suicide risk — both are classic exam discriminators.
- Then run it on FirstPassPA. Work the Psychiatry question set by topic, read every explanation, and let spaced repetition resurface your misses as your exam date nears — then simulate with timed, mixed blocks in the final week.
What are common Psychiatry EOR mistakes?
- Mixing up disorder duration thresholds
- Confusing serotonin syndrome and NMS
- Giving antidepressant monotherapy in bipolar disorder
- Forgetting medical causes/delirium in altered mental status
- Underweighting suicide risk assessment
Study Psychiatry on FirstPassPA
EOR rotation mode gives you a focused Psychiatry question set with an AI tutor on every answer, spaced repetition, and analytics that show your weak spots. Free to start — no credit card.
Start studying free → Try free Psychiatry questions →Educational use only. This outline is a study aid for PA students and is not medical advice or a substitute for clinical judgment. FirstPassPA is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCCPA or PAEA. PANCE® and PANRE® are registered trademarks of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants; End of Rotation™ is a program of the Physician Assistant Education Association.