OSCE Talk

In this episode, we discuss how to approach suicide risk assessment and overdose history taking in a structured, sensitive and clinically safe way.

This episode is intended for medical students and healthcare professionals learning how to assess risk and conduct these conversations appropriately in OSCE exams and clinical practice.

We cover:

• How to structure an overdose history (before, during, after)
• Exploring intent, planning and impulsivity
• Assessing mood, hopelessness and protective factors
• Psychotic symptoms and suicide risk
• Social stressors and forensic history
• Substance use in context
• Physical symptoms following overdose
• Risk factors vs protective factors
• How to stratify risk safely
• A full example OSCE-style patient scenario

This is an educational discussion designed to support safe clinical practice.

If you are personally struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please seek professional support or contact local emergency services.

Disclaimer

OSCE Talk is an educational resource designed primarily to help healthcare students prepare for clinical examinations. Episodes on the key, exam-relevant and salient points of each topic and are not intended to provide a complete or exhaustive review of clinical management.

​

Content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for formal teaching, clinical supervision, local policies or current national guidance. While we aim to keep our content accurate and useful, medical guidance changes over time and episodes may contain omissions or necessary simplifications.

​

Always refer to appropriate guidance when making clinical decisions or caring for patients. 

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.

Disclaimer

OSCE Talk is an educational resource designed primarily to help healthcare students prepare for clinical examinations. Episodes on the key, exam-relevant and salient points of each topic and are not intended to provide a complete or exhaustive review of clinical management.

​

Content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for formal teaching, clinical supervision, local policies or current national guidance. While we aim to keep our content accurate and useful, medical guidance changes over time and episodes may contain omissions or necessary simplifications.

​

Always refer to appropriate guidance when making clinical decisions or caring for patients. 

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.

Disclaimer

OSCE Talk is an educational resource designed primarily to help healthcare students prepare for clinical examinations. Episodes on the key, exam-relevant and salient points of each topic and are not intended to provide a complete or exhaustive review of clinical management.

​

Content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for formal teaching, clinical supervision, local policies or current national guidance. While we aim to keep our content accurate and useful, medical guidance changes over time and episodes may contain omissions or necessary simplifications.

​

Always refer to appropriate guidance when making clinical decisions or caring for patients. 

🎧 Subscribe to OSCE Talk Premium here 👇
https://members.spotify.com/to/osce-talk

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.

Disclaimer

OSCE Talk is an educational resource designed primarily to help healthcare students prepare for clinical examinations. Episodes on the key, exam-relevant and salient points of each topic and are not intended to provide a complete or exhaustive review of clinical management.

​

Content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for formal teaching, clinical supervision, local policies or current national guidance. While we aim to keep our content accurate and useful, medical guidance changes over time and episodes may contain omissions or necessary simplifications.

​

Always refer to appropriate guidance when making clinical decisions or caring for patients. 

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.

Disclaimer

OSCE Talk is an educational resource designed primarily to help healthcare students prepare for clinical examinations. Episodes on the key, exam-relevant and salient points of each topic and are not intended to provide a complete or exhaustive review of clinical management.

​

Content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for formal teaching, clinical supervision, local policies or current national guidance. While we aim to keep our content accurate and useful, medical guidance changes over time and episodes may contain omissions or necessary simplifications.

​

Always refer to appropriate guidance when making clinical decisions or caring for patients. 

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_

Disclaimer

OSCE Talk is an educational resource designed primarily to help healthcare students prepare for clinical examinations. Episodes on the key, exam-relevant and salient points of each topic and are not intended to provide a complete or exhaustive review of clinical management.

​

Content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for formal teaching, clinical supervision, local policies or current national guidance. While we aim to keep our content accurate and useful, medical guidance changes over time and episodes may contain omissions or necessary simplifications.

​

Always refer to appropriate guidance when making clinical decisions or caring for patients. 

🎧 Subscribe to OSCE Talk Premium here 👇
https://members.spotify.com/to/osce-talk

In this episode of OSCE Talk, we break down how to take a structured paediatric history We 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_

Disclaimer

OSCE Talk is an educational resource designed primarily to help healthcare students prepare for clinical examinations. Episodes on the key, exam-relevant and salient points of each topic and are not intended to provide a complete or exhaustive review of clinical management.

​

Content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for formal teaching, clinical supervision, local policies or current national guidance. While we aim to keep our content accurate and useful, medical guidance changes over time and episodes may contain omissions or necessary simplifications.

​

Always refer to appropriate guidance when making clinical decisions or caring for patients. 

🎧 Subscribe to OSCE Talk Premium here 👇
https://members.spotify.com/to/osce-talk

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_  

Disclaimer

OSCE Talk is an educational resource designed primarily to help healthcare students prepare for clinical examinations. Episodes on the key, exam-relevant and salient points of each topic and are not intended to provide a complete or exhaustive review of clinical management.

​

Content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for formal teaching, clinical supervision, local policies or current national guidance. While we aim to keep our content accurate and useful, medical guidance changes over time and episodes may contain omissions or necessary simplifications.

​

Always refer to appropriate guidance when making clinical decisions or caring for patients. 

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.

Disclaimer

OSCE Talk is an educational resource designed primarily to help healthcare students prepare for clinical examinations. Episodes on the key, exam-relevant and salient points of each topic and are not intended to provide a complete or exhaustive review of clinical management.

​

Content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for formal teaching, clinical supervision, local policies or current national guidance. While we aim to keep our content accurate and useful, medical guidance changes over time and episodes may contain omissions or necessary simplifications.

​

Always refer to appropriate guidance when making clinical decisions or caring for patients. 

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.

Disclaimer

OSCE Talk is an educational resource designed primarily to help healthcare students prepare for clinical examinations. Episodes on the key, exam-relevant and salient points of each topic and are not intended to provide a complete or exhaustive review of clinical management.

​

Content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for formal teaching, clinical supervision, local policies or current national guidance. While we aim to keep our content accurate and useful, medical guidance changes over time and episodes may contain omissions or necessary simplifications.

​

Always refer to appropriate guidance when making clinical decisions or caring for patients.