Explain late-life bipolar mania and lithium plan to patient and son — CASC communication station

Station brief

Format. Communication station, approximately 7–10 minutes active time after reading. You are the psychiatry registrar on the old-age ward, day of discharge planning. ^[5]

Candidate instructions. Explain bipolar mania relapse in later life in plain language; why continuing lithium makes sense despite age; lower blood-level targets and blood tests (kidney, thyroid, calcium, lithium level); warn about NSAIDs, dehydration, and vomiting/confusion as toxicity signs; discuss mood-episode suicide risk and how to seek help; check understanding. Examiner plays the patient; a second role-player may be the son. ^[1][2]