Explain treatment-resistant depression and next-step options — CASC communication station

Station brief

Format. Communication station, approximately 7–10 minutes active time after reading. You are the psychiatry registrar in the outpatient mood clinic. ^[3]

Candidate instructions. Explain what treatment-resistant depression means in plain language, why her previous trials count as adequate failures, why lithium augmentation is being recommended, what blood tests and side-effects to expect, when ECT might be discussed, and how you will monitor mood and safety. Check understanding and invite questions. The examiner plays the patient. ^[3]