What PLAB 2 psychiatry stations cover

Psychiatry and mental health stations in PLAB 2 include depression, anxiety, psychosis, risk assessment and substance misuse. They test structured history-taking, suicide and risk assessment, and empathic, non-judgemental communication.

Topics you can practise in these stations include:

  • Low mood with suicidal thoughts
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Trouble sleeping, asking for sleeping pills
  • Weight loss
  • Mother with dementia, carer support
  • Confused man found wandering
  • Memory concern after a fall
  • Self-harm after overdose and wrist-cutting
  • Paracetamol overdose
  • Alcohol use assessment
  • Opioid dependence
  • Worried mother
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Persistent tiredness and low mood

How to approach a psychiatry station

Build rapport quickly, take a structured psychiatric history, and always carry out an explicit risk assessment, asking directly about thoughts, plans, intent and means. Stay empathic and non-judgemental throughout, and agree a clear safety plan.

The underlying structure is the same as any PLAB 2 station: greet and confirm identity, explore the patient's ideas, concerns and expectations early, take a focused history, screen for the red flags below, explain your thinking in plain English, and agree a shared plan with clear safety-netting. See the free PLAB 2 preparation guide for the full study plan.

Red flags to screen for in psychiatry stations

Examiners reward candidates who actively screen for what must not be missed. In psychiatry stations, the key red flags include:

  • Active suicidal ideation with a plan, intent or access to means
  • Risk of harm to others
  • Acute psychosis or command hallucinations
  • Severe self-neglect or inability to care for oneself
  • A recent overdose or self-harm needing medical assessment

Skills these stations test

The 31 psychiatry stations break down by skill type as:

  • History and management 17
  • History and risk assessment 7
  • Counselling 7

All 31 free psychiatry stations

Every station below is free. Click one to sit it as an eight-minute spoken consultation, then get your mark-scheme breakdown.

History and management 17

History and risk assessment 7

Counselling 7

Practise other PLAB 2 specialties

Frequently asked questions

What PLAB 2 psychiatry stations come up?

Plabity's 31 free PLAB 2 psychiatry stations include presentations such as low mood with suicidal thoughts, trouble sleeping, trouble sleeping, asking for sleeping pills, weight loss, mother with dementia, carer support, confused man found wandering, memory concern after a fall, self-harm after overdose and wrist-cutting, paracetamol overdose, alcohol use assessment, opioid dependence, worried mother, unexplained weight loss, persistent tiredness and low mood. Each runs as an eight-minute spoken consultation marked to the PLAB rubric.

Are these PLAB 2 psychiatry stations free?

Yes. All 31 are free to practise. You sign up with an email address, with no card required.

How are the stations marked?

Each station is marked across the three PLAB domains: data gathering, clinical management and interpersonal skills. You get a breakdown of every criterion with quoted evidence from your own consultation, in seconds.

See also: free PLAB 2 preparation · the complete PLAB 2 guide · all free stations

Practise psychiatry stations free.

31 spoken psychiatry cubicles, marked to the PLAB rubric. No card, no plan.

Start practising free