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View neurology new-format examination sample video clip and then see the sample questions below.
A 45-year-old man, shown in the video, comes to the emergency department with acute onset of double vision.
Which of the following is the localization of this patient's deficit on examination? Left pons (correct answer) Right pons Left medulla Right medulla Left facial nerve at stylomastoid foramen
Which of the following diagnoses is most likely in this patient? Bell palsy Lyme disease Brainstem stroke (correct answer) Wernicke encephalopathy Middle cerebral artery infarction
Sample Letters for Residency Training Credentialing Process
The credentials department frequently requires letters from candidates that verify and confirm that all training requirements have been or will be completed prior to admission to examinations. Candidates may download and utilize the sample letters (in pdf format) to submit to the ABPN for the credentialing process.
Changes in Neurology and Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology Examinations
New credentialing process effective for residents who entered residency training in neurology (PGY-2) or child neurology (PGY-3) on or after July 1, 2005.
ABPN has made changes in the credentialing process effective for residents who entered residency training in neurology (PGY-2) or child neurology (PGY-3) on or after July 1, 2005. Some of the clinical skills evaluations (see below) that are currently conducted in the Part II examination will now take place within the residency program, and the residents will be required to submit documentation of satisfactory performance in the evaluation of clinical skills as part of the ABPN credentialing process. Assessment of other clinical skills will be integrated into a new computer-administered certification examination beginning in 2008. Candidates who successfully pass this computer-administered examination will be awarded a ten-year, time-limited certificate in their respective specialty.
The ABPN will begin administering a new-format, computer-administered certification examination beginning in 2008.
Clinical Skills Evaluations in Residency Training Program The ABPN requires that residents demonstrate competency in the following areas while in residency training in order to apply for the initial certification examination in neurology or neurology with special qualification in child neurology:
Medical interviewing
Neurological examination
Humanistic qualities, professionalism, and counseling skills
Demonstration of competency in evaluating a minimum of five different patients during residency training is required. Clinical skills evaluations may be repeated as many times as needed to successfully complete the five required evaluations. Training Program Directors will attest to successful completion when the resident applies for the Board examination. See the Clinical Skills Evaluation of Residents in Neurology and Child NeurologyInstruction Guide and the two ABPN-approved forms, NEX v1 and NEX v2, for use in residency training programs.
Current credentialing process effective for residents who entered residency training in neurology (PGY-2) or child neurology (PGY-3) before July 1, 2005.
Residents who entered residency training in neurology (PGY-2) or child neurology (PGY-3) prior to July 1, 2005, must utilize the current certification process and will have up to February 1, 2013, to complete the certification process. Such residents will be required to apply and sit for the Part I examinations being administered in 2007, 2008, or 2009.* Any candidate that sits for and passes the Part I examination in 2010 or before will have three opportunities or until February 1, 2013, to pass the Part II examination, whichever comes first.
*The 2010 Part I examination will not be available for first-time takers. The current-format Part I examination will be eliminated after 2010.
Candidates who fail the initial Part I examination may, upon payment of the Part I reexamination fee, repeat the examination the following year. Reexaminees who do not sit for reexamination as scheduled also will be required to reapply for the Part I examination.
Candidates who do not pass the Part I examination in 2010 or before or who do not complete the certification process by the February 1, 2013, deadline will be required to submit documentation of satisfactory performance in the evaluation of clinical skills completed in an ACGME-accredited program as part of the ABPN credentialing process. To become Board certified in either neurology or neurology with special qualification in child neurology, such candidates must pass the new computer-administered certification examination.
The ABPN will begin administering a new-format, computer-administered certification examination beginning in 2008.
The ABPN will be eliminating the Part II neurology and neurology with special qualification in child neurology examinations entirely by February 1, 2013.
Changes in Psychiatry Examinations Effective May 2006
Psychiatry Part II examination changes became effective with the May 2006 examination. A vignette section replaced the former audiovisual hour.
Sample Written Vignette An 18-year-old unmarried woman comes to a local community mental health center with her three-week-old daughter. She reports experiencing depressed mood, low energy, anorexia, and frequent crying spells for the past two weeks. She states she’s not a good mother and wonders if her daughter would be better off without her. Further inquiry reveals the woman is suspicious of and cannot trust others. She hears a voice inside her head saying, “Do it,” related to hurting herself and/or her daughter.
She says she lives alone and isn’t certain who the baby’s father is. Because the woman had been in foster care as a child, she is very concerned about her baby being taken away from her by the authorities if she’s admitted to the hospital. She says that, if necessary, she is willing to take medication as an outpatient. She reports that neither she nor her infant have had any medical care since they left the hospital 24 hours following delivery.
Previous clinic records document that the young woman was seen for three evaluative sessions at age 16, after which she was prescribed medication. At that time, she was agitated, had pressured speech, and revealed a history of substance use and sexual promiscuity. She did not return for follow-up and was reported to be truant from a second foster home placement. There was no further contact in the past two years.
Written Vignette Sample Questions with Diagnostic Focus
Discuss a key aspect of the phenomenological presentation of the patient.
List and prioritize the most likely Axis I diagnoses for this patient.
Discuss the predisposing, precipitating, perpetuating, and protective factors in this case.
Discuss the additional studies (e.g., diagnostic laboratory tests, neuroradiologic results, psychological testing) that should be obtained and the rationale for each one. Candidates could also be asked to address a comorbid illness.
Written Vignette Sample Questions with Treatment Focus
Discuss pharmacologic or somatic treatment.
Discuss psychotherapy or other environmental intervention.
Discuss aspects of the clinical management of the patient, e.g., risk-management issues, long-term management, management of comorbid conditions.
Discuss aspects of the context of clinical practice, e.g., optimal setting of care, legal/ethical issues, quality-of-life issues.
Video Clip Vignette Sample - Click Play to Start Please note that you need to have a recent version of the Flash player installed on your comuputer. If you are having difficulties with viewing or hearing the video clip, please click on the link below to download a free Flash player: http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash
This 23-year-old woman came to the ER because she felt like killing herself.
Video Clip Vignette Sample Items for Axis I Diagnosis
Observations of patient: Describe the patient’s appearance, dress, grooming, ethnicity; estimated intellectual level; ability to tell his/her story; evidence of physical disability; and behavior in interaction with the examiner.
Present the mental status examination, focusing on one or more of the following: appearance, psychomotor level, affect, mood, thought content/process/perception, cognition, insight, and judgment.
Present the differential diagnosis for this patient on Axis I.
Describe the patient’s level of impairment due to his/her symptoms and his/her subjective level of distress. Estimate the patient’s global assessment of functioning and substantiate the rating. Describe the patient’s strengths and weaknesses in his/her coping strategies.
Video Clip Vignette Sample Items for Axis II Diagnosis
Observations of patient: Describe the patient’s interaction with the interviewer and/or the pattern of relationships described in the video clip. Identify pertinent nonverbal communication and behavior demonstrated by the patient and the interviewer.
Present the differential of Axis II personality traits or disorders, including examples.
Treatment issues: Discuss treatment challenges and pitfalls related to one or more of the following issues:
Treatment issues: Discuss treatment challenges and pitfalls related to one or more of the following issues:
Applications are open for a short time prior to the deadline/late deadline.
2008 Information for Applicants (IFAs) and applications are available as pdf files.
Important Notices are posted frequently to include information regarding mailings of admissibility to examinations, grade letters, availability of Information for Applicants publications and applications, hotel registration for Part II and CAP oral examinations, and more. Click here to read Important Notices.
Content Outlines for examinations are available from the Content Outlines page.
Go to http://www.pearsonvue.com/abpn/, scroll down and click Play Tutorial for a Pearson VUE demonstration test and to gain familiarity with computer-administered examinations.
