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DNB Psychiatry Previous Year Questions

These are the DNB Psychiatry theory questions asked by NBEMS in the December 2025 and June 2025 exams, listed paper by paper as they appeared. The Prep DNB app has all 24 DNB sessions from June 2014 to December 2025 — 951 questions in total — with repeat-question tracking, examiner keywords and MCQs.

Jump to: December 2025 · June 2025 · Important topics · Older papers

DNB Psychiatry December 2025 Question Paper

Paper 1

  1. Explain the role of neuroplasticity in psychiatric disorders. Discuss its clinical implications. [5+5]
  2. Discuss the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in stress response and its relevance to psychiatric disorders. [5+5]
  3. Explain the neurobiology of schizophrenia with reference to dopamine, glutamate and neurodevelopmental models. [3+3+4]
  4. Describe classical and operant conditioning. Discuss their applications in clinical psychiatry. [5+5]
  5. Describe theories of personality, theories of psychopathology and their application in therapy. [4+4+2]
  6. What are the functions of basal ganglia? Describe the clinical syndromes associated with basal ganglia dysfunction and their management. [4+4+2]
  7. Discuss the different statistical measures to observe for test of significance related to parametric and non-parametric data. [5+5]
  8. Explain regarding genetic basis of major psychiatric disorders: twin studies, heritability and molecular insights. [3+3+4]
  9. Define executive function and enumerate its neuroanatomical correlates. Describe various tools for assessment of executive function. [1+2+7]
  10. What are the different types of waves in EEG? Write briefly about the EEG changes seen in psychiatric disorders. [4+6]

Paper 2

  1. What is generalized anxiety disorder? Discuss the pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of panic disorder. [2+(4+4)]
  2. Define dissociation. How will you differentiate psychogenic seizure from an epileptic seizure? [2+8]
  3. What is treatment resistant mania? Discuss the pharmacological management of treatment resistant mania. [5+5]
  4. What are the differences between suicide and parasuicide? Discuss the psychological basis of suicide. [5+5]
  5. Antipsychotic-induced movement disorders: types, mechanisms, and management. [3+3+4]
  6. What do you understand by the term Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)'? Discuss in detail about the main components of IPT. [2+8]
  7. Enumerate the diagnostic criteria, predisposing factors, precipitating factors, common causes and pharmacological management of delirium. [2+2+2+2+2]
  8. Management of alcohol withdrawal: assessment, pharmacological and non-pharmacological care. [3+3+4]
  9. What is trichotillomania? Discuss the clinical features and management of a case of trichotillomania. [2+(4+4)]
  10. Discuss the nosology, clinical features and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. [3+3+4]

Paper 3

  1. Describe the evaluation and management of conduct disorder in children. [5+5]
  2. Define intellectual disability (ID). Discuss the assessment and certification of a case of ID. [2+(4+4)]
  3. Community mental health care in India - current status, problems and need of the hour. [4+3+3]
  4. Define testamentary capacity. Describe its assessment, psychiatric conditions requiring its evaluation and challenges faced in its assessment. [1+(4+3+2)]
  5. What is psychiatric rehabilitation? What are various techniques for rehabilitation of patients with chronic schizophrenia? [2+8]
  6. Discuss assessment of capacity under MHCA 2017. What are the roles of Mental Health Review Board (MHRB)'? [5+5]
  7. Discuss the various neuroanatomical and neuropsychological changes of ageing. [5+5]
  8. Discuss the etiology, assessment and management of premature ejaculation. [2+4+4]
  9. What are behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia? Describe their management. [5+5]
  10. Describe psychiatric aspects of chronic kidney disease. Describe the role of a psychiatrist in a renal transplant unit. [5+5]

Paper 4

  1. Discuss mechanism, procedure, indications, and adverse effects of rTMS. [2+2+3+3]
  2. Discuss the mechanism of action, dosage, psychiatric indications and side effects of Lumateperone. [2+2+3+3]
  3. What is telepsychiatry? Discuss medico-legal issues in telepsychiatry. [3+7]
  4. Discuss the clinical features and management of neurosyphilis. [6+4]
  5. a) Psychiatric aspects of domestic violence cases. [5] b) What is the association of schizophrenia and criminal acts? [5]
  6. What are the various forms of cannabis? Write the various medicinal properties of cannabis. [3+7]
  7. What are neurological soft signs? Discuss the different types of neurological soft signs and its psychiatric implications. [2+(5+3)]
  8. Describe neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with traumatic brain injury and their management. [5+5]
  9. Discuss the role of digital mental health and its applications in psychiatry in future. [5+5]
  10. Describe the indications of ordering neuroimaging in clinical practice and findings of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging in various neuropsychiatric disorders. [5+5]

DNB Psychiatry June 2025 Question Paper

Paper 1

  1. a) Describe the neuroanatomy of cerebral cortex. [3] b) Describe cellular organization of cerebral cortex. [3] c) Describe its functional circuitry with a suitable diagram. [4]
  2. a) Explain the genetic factors in neuropsychiatric diseases. [5] b) Explain the environmental factors in neuropsychiatric diseases. [5]
  3. a) Describe the synthesis of glutamate in brain. [3] b) Major pathways of glutamate in brain. [3] c) Receptors of glutamate in brain. [4]
  4. a) Describe the synthesis of nitric oxide. [3] b) Mechanism of action of nitric oxide. [3] c) Neuropathological role of nitric oxide. [4]
  5. a) Describe the biosynthesis of endocannabinoids. [2] b) Transmission of endocannabinoids. [3] c) Implications in psychiatric diagnosis of endocannabinoids. [5]
  6. Describe the electrophysiological abnormalities in: a)schizophrenia. [3] b) Catatonia. [2] c) Obsessive compulsive disorder. [2] d) Delirium. [3]
  7. a) Describe the Piagets theory. [2] b) Describe various stages of cognitive development. [8]
  8. a) Describe the role of cortex in memory formation. [5] b) Discuss about memory impairment in various psychiatric illnesses. [5]
  9. a) What is the concept of self? [4] b) Discuss its perspective in psychiatric disorders. [6]
  10. a) Define stress. [2] b) Discuss neurobiology of stress. [3] c) Critically evaluate the efficacy of different coping mechanisms in stress management. [5]

Paper 2

  1. Describe diagnosis, clinical features and management of caffeine related disorders. [2+3+5]
  2. a) Classify migraine. [4] b) Discuss its epidemiology. [2] c) Course of migraine. [2] d) Treatment of migraine. [2]
  3. a) Describe negative symptoms in schizophrenia. [5] b) Discuss about the management. [5]
  4. a) Discuss different psychological theories of depression and OCD. [5] b) Describe how these theories can help in their management. [5]
  5. a) Describe the neurobiology of opioid use disorder. [4] b) Psychosocial factors of opioid use disorder. [6]
  6. a) Discuss about the nosological status of schizoaffective disorder. [2] b) Differential diagnosis. [2] c) Biological treatment. [3] d) Psychological treatment. [3]
  7. a) Classify first generation anti-psychotics. [5] b) Describe the mechanism of action, metabolism and side effect profile of haloperidol. [5]
  8. a) What are the mechanisms of action of ECT? [3] b) How to prepare a patient for modified ECT? [3] c) Write about monitoring of a patient undergoing modified ECT. [4]
  9. a) Describe suicidal enquiry. [4] b) Axis category diagnosis of suicide. [3] c) Write about genetic disposition in suicide. [3]
  10. Describe the pre-treatment evaluation of a psychiatry patient suffering from a) Hyperthyroidism. [3] b) Generalized seizure disorder. [3] c) Intellectual impairment. [4]

Paper 3

  1. a) What is enuresis? [1] b) Classify enuresis. [2] c) Describe the management of enuresis in a 15-year-old child. [3] d) Describe the management of enuresis in a 70-year-old adult. [4]
  2. a) Write about the principle of rehabilitation of psychiatric patients. [5] b) Practice of rehabilitation of psychiatric patients. [5]
  3. a) Describe the differential diagnosis of high functioning autism in a child. [3] b) Management of high functioning autism in a child. [4] c) Prognosis of high functioning autism in a child. [3]
  4. a) Discuss about the District Mental Health Program. [6] b) Discuss its impact. [4]
  5. Critically analyze the various aspects of Mental Health Care Act 2017. [10]
  6. a) Classify dementia. [3] b) Write about the clinical features of Lewy body dementia. [3] c) Management of Lewy body dementia. [4]
  7. Oppositional Defiant Disorder: a) Definition. [3] b) Clinical features. [4] c) Management. [3]
  8. a) Neuropsychiatric manifestation of Wilson disease. [5] b) Management of Wilson disease. [5]
  9. a) Discuss about the various admission procedures used for mentally ill criminal persons. [5] b) What are the criteria for Fit to stand trial? [5]
  10. a) Definition of Mild Cognitive Impairment. [2] b) Presentation. [2] c) Course. [3] d) Management. [3]

Paper 4

  1. a) Describe different models of genetic studies in psychiatry. [5] b) Discuss recent advances in genetic studies of psychiatry. [5]
  2. Describe recent advances in psychological rehabilitation in persons with major mental illness. [10]
  3. a) Discuss the biological markers of one major psychiatric illness. [5] b) Discuss the biological markers of another major psychiatric illness. [5]
  4. a) Discuss the recent changes in diagnostic classification systems related to personality disorders. [5] b) Recent changes in diagnostic classification systems related to substance use disorder. [5]
  5. a) Discuss the recent advances of the diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder. [5] b) Recent advances of the diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder. [5]
  6. a) Discuss the electronic media in the management of psychiatric illnesses. [7] b) Describe its status in India. [3]
  7. a) Discuss adolescent parasuicide/suicide. [5] b) Discuss the legal issues related to it. [2] c) Social issues related to it. [3]
  8. a) What is mental health? [2] b) Discuss mental health issues related to infertility. [4] c) Discuss mental health issues related to cancer. [4]
  9. a) Who are the neo-Kraepelinians? [3] b) How they influence the current classificatory system? [7]
  10. a) Describe the use of radiological investigations in psychiatric illnesses. [5] b) Describe the use of electrophysiological investigations in psychiatric illnesses. [5]

High-Yield DNB Psychiatry Topics

A selection of 29 of the 48 important topics curated in the app from repeated DNB Psychiatry questions.

Assessment and classification — foundation

  • Mental status examination: components and documentation
  • DSM-5-TR vs ICD-11: key differences, categorical vs dimensional (RDoC)
  • Phenomenology: delusions (types), hallucinations (true vs pseudo), thought disorder, insight

Psychotic disorders — high yield

  • Schizophrenia: positive/negative/cognitive symptoms, course, prognostic factors
  • Antipsychotics: FGA vs SGA, clozapine (monitoring), LAIs, extrapyramidal side effects, NMS
  • Treatment-resistant schizophrenia: clozapine criteria, augmentation strategies

Mood disorders

  • Depression: clinical features, subtypes, cognitive triad, somatic symptoms
  • Antidepressants: SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs — mechanisms, side effects, switching
  • Treatment-resistant depression: augmentation, ECT, TMS, esketamine/ketamine

Anxiety and related disorders

  • GAD, panic disorder (with/without agoraphobia), social anxiety, specific phobias
  • OCD: Y-BOCS, ERP/CBT, SSRI dosing, treatment-resistant OCD
  • PTSD: trauma-focused CBT, EMDR, pharmacotherapy; complex PTSD

Substance use disorders

  • Alcohol: intoxication, withdrawal (CIWA), delirium tremens, Wernicke-Korsakoff, de-addiction
  • Opioid use disorder: methadone, buprenorphine, naloxone; tobacco cessation
  • Cannabis, stimulants, inhalants; dual diagnosis (SUD + psychiatric disorder)

Personality and impulse control

  • Personality disorders: clusters A/B/C; borderline PD (DBT, MBT); antisocial PD
  • Impulse control disorders: IED, kleptomania, pyromania, trichotillomania

Child and adolescent psychiatry

  • ADHD: diagnostic criteria, methylphenidate/atomoxetine, behavioural management
  • Autism spectrum disorder: diagnostic features, early intervention
  • Intellectual disability: classification, assessment, management

Geriatric psychiatry

  • Dementia: Alzheimer's (cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine), vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal
  • Delirium vs dementia: CAM, causes, management; mild cognitive impairment
  • Late-life depression and psychosis; elder abuse

Organic and neuropsychiatry

  • Organic mental disorders: delirium, head injury, epilepsy, HIV, endocrine causes
  • Neurotransmitters in psychiatry: dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, GABA pathways
  • Psychiatric manifestations of medical illness; psychotropic prescribing in medical comorbidity

Psychotherapy and rehabilitation

  • CBT: principles, indications, techniques for depression/anxiety/OCD
  • Psychodynamic therapy, IPT, supportive therapy; motivational interviewing
  • Rehabilitation psychiatry: social skills training, vocational rehab, family psychoeducation

Older DNB Psychiatry Question Papers

The remaining 22 papers are available in the Prep DNB app, organized paper-wise with repeat-question tracking.

Get all 24 papers in the app

Previous Year Questions for Other DNB Subjects