How should I study for the Psychiatry EOR exam?

Memorize the DSM-5 timelines exactly — MDD 2 weeks, GAD 6 months, schizophrenia 6 months. They're tested verbatim. Then practice with a focused Psychiatry question set, read every explanation, and use timed mixed blocks in the final week.

End-of-Rotation Exam Prep

Psychiatry EOR exam prep

Q: When do the 2026 Psychiatry EOR blueprint changes take effect?

PAEA's updated End of Rotation exams are effective as of July 27, 2026, with legacy versions available through July 2027. The Psychiatry exam — officially Psychiatric & Behavioral Health on the new blueprint — 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.

Written & clinically reviewed by Ryan Busch, PA-C · Updated July 2026 · Report an error

Psychiatry is criteria-driven: know the DSM-5 thresholds, first-line pharmacology, and the emergencies (suicidality, serotonin syndrome, NMS, withdrawal).

2026 blueprint update

PAEA's updated End of Rotation exams are effective as of July 27, 2026 (legacy versions run through July 2027). The Psychiatry exam — officially Psychiatric & Behavioral Health on the new blueprint — 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.

See the full Psychiatry EOR blueprint changes →

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.

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.