Explain substance-induced depression and dual plan to a partner — CASC communication station

Station brief

Format. Communication station, approximately 7–10 minutes active time after reading. You are the psychiatry registrar on the addiction/dual-diagnosis pathway. [1]

Candidate instructions. Explain the working diagnosis of possible alcohol-related (substance-induced) depression to the partner, outline medical detox and suicide safety, discuss why mood often improves with abstinence yet why follow-up and sometimes antidepressants are still needed, describe concurrent alcohol treatment (including possible naltrexone), and check understanding without moralising. The examiner plays the partner. [1][2]