In this episode, we break down clozapine — the gold standard treatment for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Clozapine is one of the most effective antipsychotics available, but it requires careful monitoring and patient education due to its unique side-effect profile.

We cover:

• What defines treatment-resistant schizophrenia
• Why clozapine is used
• Mechanism of action (high-yield overview)
• Smoking interactions and compliance issues
• Slow titration and 48-hour restart rule
• Agranulocytosis and blood monitoring schedule
• Myocarditis risk
• Seizure risk
• Severe constipation (often underestimated)
• Metabolic side effects
• Clozapine and suicide risk reduction
• How to counsel a patient in an OSCE

We also discuss key red flags — including infection symptoms that require urgent assessment.

This episode is ideal for:

• Medical students

• OSCE preparation

• Psychiatry placements

• Foundation doctors

• GP and acute care rotations

Clozapine is powerful — but only safe when monitored properly.

In this episode, we break down how to take a safe, structured obstetric history.

Obstetric histories can feel overwhelming — you’re assessing both the mother and the baby, while also screening for potentially life-threatening complications. This episode gives you a clear structure to stay safe in exams and clinical practice.

We cover:

• How to structure the presenting complaint
• Characterising bleeding, pain and discharge
• Reduced fetal movements
• Head-to-toe maternal screening
• Current pregnancy history (scans, screening, complications)
• Past obstetric history
• Medical and medication history in pregnancy
• Vaccines and supplements (folic acid)
• Social history and safeguarding
• Key red flags (pre-eclampsia, abruption, PE, DVT, sepsis)
• When to escalate urgently

This episode is ideal for:

• Medical students

• OSCE preparation

• Obstetrics & gynaecology placements

• GP and emergency medicine rotations

• Foundation doctors

A clear structure keeps you safe — both in exams and in real clinical settings.

In this episode, we break down lithium — how it works, when it’s used, how to monitor it safely, and how to counsel a patient in an OSCE station.

Lithium is one of the most effective long-term treatments for bipolar disorder and significantly reduces suicide risk — but it requires careful monitoring and patient education.

We cover:

• Indications for lithium (bipolar disorder & treatment-resistant depression)
• How lithium stabilises mood
• Therapeutic range and toxicity levels
• Baseline investigations (U&Es, TFTs, calcium, ECG)
• Ongoing monitoring schedule
• 12-hour lithium level timing
• Common side effects
• Lithium toxicity signs and triggers
• Drug interactions (NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors, diuretics)
• Pregnancy risks and counselling
• OSCE counselling structure

This episode is ideal for:

• Medical students

• OSCE preparation

• Psychiatry placements

• Foundation doctors

• GP rotations

Lithium is powerful — but only safe when monitored correctly. This episode helps you understand both the science and the counselling.

In this episode, we break down how to take a safe, structured history from a patient with a suspected eating disorder.

This is a high-yield OSCE station and a clinically important skill — anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality of any psychiatric illness, often due to cardiac complications, electrolyte disturbances and suicide.

We cover:

• How to sensitively approach eating disorder histories
• Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder
• Weight history and body image assessment
• Restriction, bingeing and compensatory behaviours
• Physical symptoms and red flags
• Suicide and risk assessment
• The SCOFF mnemonic
• When admission is required
• Baseline investigations
• Refeeding syndrome explained clearly

This episode focuses on safe clinical practice, structured assessment and recognising when a patient requires urgent medical admission.

Ideal for:

• Medical students

• OSCE preparation

• Psychiatry placements

• GP and emergency medicine rotations

• Foundation doctors

If this topic is sensitive for you, please seek appropriate support.

In this episode of OSCE Talk, we focus on SSRI antidepressants: sertraline, citalopram, fluoxetine. We walk through the mechanism of these medications, their common side effects. The need to monitor for suicide risk in the under 25s. What medications interact with SSRIs. The importance of these medications alongside proper cognitive behavioural therapy in the management of depression.

We finish with an example of how to counsel this to a patient in an effective and concise manner.

🎧 Listen & Follow:

🎙️ Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/01yz38z...

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

▶️ YouTube → / @oscetalkpod

📸 Instagram → / oscetalk_

🎵 TikTok → / oscetalk_

In this episode of OSCE Talk, we break down how to take a structured paediatric historyWe walk through the basics of a paediatric history, including who the patient has brought with them mum, dad , or grandparent.The episode also highlights the importance of a clear systematic approach using a head to toes overview to cover all basic symptoms.

We go through the importances of birth, feeding, growth, development, and vaccine history.

This episode is designed to help medical students improve their basics whilst taking a paediatric history. 🎧 Listen & Follow:🎙️ Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/01yz38z...🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...▶️ YouTube → / @oscetalkpod 📸 Instagram → / oscetalk_ 🎵 TikTok → / oscetalk_

In this episode of OSCE Talk, we break down how to take a clear, structured psychiatric history.

We walk through core psychiatric symptoms not to miss including screening for depression, anxiety, mania, psychosis, schizophrenia and OCD.

The episode also highlights the importance of understanding psychiatric terminology, and going through the importance of RISK in psychiatry.

This episode is designed to help you sound confident, organised, and clinically safe when faced with pyschiatric history stations.

🎧 Listen & Follow:🎙️ Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/01yz38z...🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...▶️ YouTube →    / @oscetalkpod  📸 Instagram →   / oscetalk_  🎵 TikTok →   / oscetalk_  

In this episode of OSCE Talk, we break down methotrexate — a high-risk but commonly prescribed DMARD used in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn’s disease.

We explain:

• how methotrexate works

• why it is taken once weekly (and never daily)

• the role of folic acid

• key side effects, drug interactions, and monitoring

• important counselling points around infection risk, pregnancy, and safety-netting

Clear, practical explanations you can use on the ward, in clinic, and in exams.

In this Osce Talk episode, we show you exactly how to counsel a patient with type 2 diabetes, followed by a clear, OSCE-ready explanation of metformin.

This episode is designed for OSCEs and clinical exams, using simple language, logical structure, and the key points examiners expect.

We cover:

• How to explain type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance to patients

• Short- and long-term complications (heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves)

• Lifestyle management and monitoring

• Metformin counselling: action, dosing, side effects, sick-day rules

• What to monitor (HbA1c, renal function)

• Common OSCE pitfalls and scoring points

Perfect for medical students, OSCE revision, finals, and early foundation training.

In this episode of Osce Talk, we break down hypothyroidism and how to counsel a patient starting levothyroxine, with a clear focus on OSCEs and clinical exams.

We cover:

• What hypothyroidism is and why it occurs

• Common symptoms and how it presents in exams

• How to explain levothyroxine in clear, patient-friendly language

• Dosing, side effects, monitoring, and pregnancy considerations

• High-yield counselling points examiners expect

This episode is ideal for medical students, OSCE preparation, and clinical exam revision.