Psych CASC / OSCE · General adult psychiatry — bipolar and related disorders
Explain bipolar diagnosis and lithium — CASC communication station
MRCPsych/FRANZCP-style communication station: explain bipolar I in plain language, outline lithium benefits including relapse and suicide-risk evidence framing, discuss blood monitoring and side-effects, address cannabis, and check understanding.
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Study tools
Target exams
Station brief
Format. Communication station, approximately 7–10 minutes active time after reading. You are the psychiatry registrar on the ward step-down clinic. [1]
Candidate instructions. Explain the diagnosis of bipolar I disorder after a first manic episode, why lithium is being recommended, what monitoring involves, common side-effects and toxicity warning signs, and realistic prognosis. Address cannabis if raised. Check understanding. The examiner plays the partner. [1]
References3ShowHide
- [1]Geddes JR, Goodwin GM, Rendell J, et al. Lithium plus valproate combination therapy versus monotherapy for relapse prevention in bipolar I disorder (BALANCE): a randomised open-label trial Lancet, 2010.PMID 20092882
- [2]Cipriani A, Hawton K, Stockton S, et al. Lithium in the prevention of suicide in mood disorders: updated systematic review and meta-analysis BMJ, 2013.PMID 23814104
- [3]McKnight RF, Adida M, Budge K, et al. Lithium toxicity profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis Lancet, 2012.PMID 22265699