http://psychboards.appsych.com/ PostNuke Powered Site en-us http://psychboards.appsych.com/images/psychboa.jpg http://psychboards.appsych.com/ admin@psychboards.org http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=31 For those of you taking part I or the recertification exam, Mass General is releasing their updated Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry text. The previous editions have been a fantastic resource for board review over the past decade. With the new revisions, it should be even better. This is a book I highly recommend. http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=29 The ABPN recently revamped its website. One of the new features which many of you will find helpful is a page containing examples for the new Part II A/V format ----> click here http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=28 If you recently took the Part II exam in Philly, then you are the first group to be tested under the new vignette audio/visual format. Please take a moment to share your experiences on the bulletin board. Thanks. Click here to post your message http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=26 I just contacted a friend who was at the Part II exam in San Francisco to ask about the switch over to vignettes in the AV portion of the exam. It has already been announced that the first exam to have the new format will be the May Part II exam in Philadelphia. He said that ABPN has not yet worked out the details of exactly how this portion of the exam will be conducted. Even the current team directors do not yet know exactly what to expect. All I can say is that the vignettes will test the same categories as the current AV - general diagnostic knowledge using the DSM IV-TR, ability to organize and present a biopsychosocial formulation and discuss treatment of the patient. For "extra credit" the examiners have been looking for exploration of spiritual and economic elements in the candidate's consideration of biopsychosocial factors. Finally, he said that over the whole weekend, he never saw any "trick questions" from any examiners. Several times examiners threw out a "life-line" questions to help the candidates refocus or get out of a jam, but never to be tricky. Good luck as you study! If anyone has any updated information, please email it to me. http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=25 The new ABPN newsletter discussed a major change in the part II format starting May of 2006. The usual AV portion will be replaced with 4 vignettes. The following is a quote from the newsletter... The psychiatry Part II examination changes will take effect with the May 2006 examination when the one hour clinical audiovisual section will consist of four vignettes, based on written cases and/or short video clips. Candidates will be examined by one or more examiners with particular reference to the content of the vignettes. These discussions may also include other clinical topics. All candidates in the examination cycle as of May 2006 will take the Part II examination in psychiatry in this new format. It is likely that the new format will involve walking to a specific station to view and discuss the material and then rotating to another station until all are completed. More info will be posted when it becomes available http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=24 Several of you have emailed me because you are having problems logging into this website. This is most likely caused by having your internet security settings set to block cookies. I have created a page with detailed instructions how to fix the problem. Click Here For Instructions http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=23 In the resource section under "part I resources", I included a link to Pearson VUE. This is the company that administers all of the written ABPN exams. On the site, you can schedule to take an exam. There is also a downloadable tutorial that allows you to practice with the test format before you have to actually take the test. This is a great tool to prepare and familiarize yourself with the computerized exam format. Click here --> Pearson VUE http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=22 The ABPN has changed the format of the part II exam. The A/V portion now only has one examiner with a float covering two exams. They have also introduced a new numerical scoring system which now allows stellar performance in one section to help offset a poorer performance on the other. For details, read the postings on the bulletin board APRIL 2005 D.C. EXAM: NEW TESTING/EXAMINER FORMAT... and Details on New Oral Board Scoring System Good Luck to all of you who are currently preparing! http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=21 I recently received word that ABPN changed the format of the A/V exam at the Washington DC Part II exam. It is unclear at this point whether this is a permanent change, or just a temporary change due to a lack of examiners. To read more, and to follow new information that becomes available click here.This will obviously have a great impact o­n everyone taking the Part II exam. http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=10 After some work, I finally have a chat room up and running. Click on the link in the main window to begin. So far, I added a general chat area, and both part I and part II chat rooms. If I am in the chat room, you will see "admin" listed under Users - feel free to ask me questions if I am there. I set up a section on the Bulletin Board to post information about when I plan be online to answer questions. Also, feel free to start virtual study groups and share information with each other in real time. Have fun! http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=13 ABPN is currently accepting applications for the new Psychosomatic Medicine Subspecialty Certification. The exam is scheduled for June of '05. The deadline for application is August 1, 2004. To qualify under the "grandfathering in" phase, you have to have completed a non-accredited consultation/liaison fellowship, or have worked at least 25% of the past 2 years working in psychosomatic medicine. The total cost for the exam is $2075 (OUCH!) Click for more information about the exam Click for a downloadable application form http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=14 Sheryl, a librarian at Elmhurst Hospital Center, recently sumitted a part I resource that she learned about. The company is Medtext. I have added them as a resource tool. o­n their website that say: "Psychiatrists using Medtext materials have enjoyed an overall 97% pass rate for the last several years. All of our practice questions are written by board-certified Psychiatrists and Neurologists. Many of the questions are remembered and reconstructed questions from previous board exams. Color plates, tables and charts are included in some books. " http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=15 I recently found another Part II resource, that has been around for a while, but somehow I missed it. Breeze the Boards is a self-study course developed by Dr. John Leipsic. The Breeze the Boards manual consolidates many sources for review materials including the DSM IV, medication review books, and expert consensus reports for major mental illnesses. There is also a self-test tutorial book, flashcards, a videotape, and audiotape as part of the package. For more information, and to order the complete package, you can visit their website: www.breezetheboards.com To order the review manual alone, click on the picture --> http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=16 I recently received short article from Dr. Clive Spiegel with a few tips about the video portion of the exam. Dr. Spiegel offers a board review class in Manhasset, New York. You can find the details on his website. Click here to go to "HOW TO CONQUER THE VIDEO EXAM"Visit Dr. Spiegel's Website at http://www.neuropsychiatrist.medem.com http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=17 Dr. Michael G. Rayel, author of Passing Strategies, and Successful Preparation for the Psychiatry Oral Exam recently submitted this useful article to Psychboards.org. He addresses six areas where candidates can focus their preparation to improve their chances of passing the Part II oral exam. His suggestions are: Conduct an empathic interview Organize your history-taking and presentation Elicit safety issues and provide appropriate intervention Demonstrate diagnostic and clinical skills Manage your time wisely Facilitate an adequate psychiatric assessment Click here to read "Six Ways to Clear the Oral Exam Hurdle"You can visit Dr. Rayel's website at www.passpsychiatryexam.com http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=18 Those of you who are taking the Part II exam in Boston should follow this message thread! Dr. Land is well known for his board review videos, and private board tutoring. He completed his residency at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center and lives in the Boston area...he knows psychiatry in Boston! He will be posting a board review tip in the forum every 2 weeks until the exam May 9th. Click here to go to "BOARD EXAM, BOSTON, MAY, 2004"Visit Dr. Land's Website at www.psychboardprep.com http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=20 The new edition of Boarding Time came out in August 2003 apparently without much fanfare. Though I have not yet read it, I know from reading some of the reviews, and from correspondence with Dr. Morrison, that it has some important updates. In preparation for the book, Morrison and Munoz conducted interviews with exam candidates and examiners. Based on these interviews, they culled out the common reasons for failure of the exam. They offer suggestions to help examinees correct some of these errors. For more information, click on the picture --> http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=19 The second edition of the Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Update and Board Preparation was just released in September 2003. This is a concise and accessible book for course review and board certification and recertification. Features a bulleted approach to all techniques for diagnosis and treatment and board-style questions with detailed answers - an excellent tutorial. For more information, click on the picture --> http://psychboards.appsych.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=12 Dr. C. Peter Rosenbaum, MD, affiliated with the PsyPrep review courses, recently submitted this useful article to Psychboards.org. In his email he wrote... As part of my teaching, I distribute a two-page comment o­n "Verbal Tics" - when people say "WOW!" or "GEEWHIZ!" or similar things that may not convey to the patient the kind of interest and empathy intended by the interviewer. View "Verbal Tics" here (PDF format)