Depression
Recognise severity, functional impairment, psychotic symptoms, chronic physical-health overlap, relapse risk and when psychological therapy or medication is most appropriate.
MRCGP AKT mental health revision
Mental health questions test more than diagnosis. The AKT often asks whether you can judge risk, prescribe safely, spot physical health overlap and choose the right level of follow-up or referral in a primary-care scenario.
Quick answer
For AKT mental health, prioritise depression, anxiety, suicide risk, self-harm, SSRI prescribing, psychosis, antipsychotic monitoring, eating disorders, safeguarding, the Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act.
What to revise first
Anxiety and panic
Revise GAD, panic disorder, OCD, PTSD, stepped care, CBT, SSRI use and when symptoms could represent physical illness instead.
Suicide risk and self-harm
Ask directly about suicidal thoughts, intent, plan, means, previous attempts, alcohol or substance misuse, protective factors and immediate safety.
SSRI prescribing
Know common adverse effects, early worsening, under-25 suicide-risk warnings, discontinuation symptoms, serotonin syndrome and review timing.
Psychosis and severe mental illness
Recognise first-episode psychosis, urgent referral, antipsychotic metabolic effects, physical-health checks and diagnostic overshadowing.
Eating disorders and legal frameworks
Revise anorexia and bulimia red flags, physical-risk thresholds, safeguarding, capacity, Mental Health Act sections and emergency escalation.
Risk signals to recognise quickly
- Clear suicidal plan, access to means or preparations
- Recent self-harm, escalating frequency or high-lethality method
- Psychotic depression, command hallucinations or severe agitation
- First-episode psychosis or rapidly deteriorating mental state
- Severe eating disorder features, syncope, bradycardia or electrolyte concern
- Substance misuse, social isolation, domestic abuse or safeguarding concern
Why AKT mental health questions feel tricky
The correct answer is often the safest next step, not the most dramatic diagnosis. Look for risk, capacity, safeguarding, medication harms, physical-health mimics and whether the person can wait for routine review.
AKT mental health FAQ
Is mental health high yield for the MRCGP AKT?
Yes. Mental health is one of the RCGP clinical topic guides and AKT questions commonly test depression, anxiety, suicide risk, self-harm, antidepressant prescribing, psychosis, eating disorders and legal frameworks.
What mental health topics should I revise for the AKT?
Prioritise depression severity, anxiety and panic, suicide risk, self-harm, SSRI prescribing, psychosis, antipsychotic monitoring, eating disorders, safeguarding, the Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act.
How should I revise suicide risk for the AKT?
Practise direct risk assessment: suicidal thoughts, intent, plan, means, previous attempts, current mental state, substance use, protective factors, safeguarding and whether same-day crisis or emergency help is needed.
Are antidepressant side effects tested in AKT mental health questions?
Yes. AKT questions can test SSRI adverse effects, early review, discontinuation symptoms, serotonin syndrome, interactions, under-25 risk warnings and safe prescribing in complex patients.
Official sources
This is revision guidance, not official RCGP advice. Check current RCGP, NICE CKS and BNF guidance for clinical decisions. Last reviewed June 2026.
October sitting
Oct 26
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days
Keep moving, even on tired days.
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