Explain IPT and choose a focus — CASC communication station

Station brief

Format. Communication station, approximately 7–10 minutes active time after reading. You are the psychiatry registrar in outpatient clinic. [1]

Candidate instructions. The patient has major depression after forced redundancy. Explain what IPT is in plain language, introduce the idea that depression is an illness linked to life roles/relationships, propose a primary role transition focus, outline roughly how many sessions and what “middle work” looks like, and answer whether they must stop their SSRI. Check understanding; avoid promising cure; collaborative tone. [1][2]

Candidate scenario

Your patient is 47, made redundant 3 months ago after 15 years in the same firm. They feel worthless, argue with their spouse about money, and avoid friends who “still have jobs.” PHQ-9 is 16. They started sertraline 100 mg 6 weeks ago with partial benefit. They have heard of CBT worksheets and want something “more about my life situation.” No active suicidal plan; intermittent passive death wish only. No mania history. [2][3]

Marking domains

• Warmth, collaboration, jargon control
• Accurate plain-language IPT definition (time-limited; mood ↔ relationships; medical model)
• Names sick role appropriately (temporary, recovery-oriented)
• Selects role transition as primary focus; may note secondary role dispute with spouse
• Mentions inventory, one focus, approximate session course, termination
• Medication: combined care acceptable; no unsupervised stop
• Realistic hope; checks understanding [1][2][5]