Mental Health — UKMLA AKT

Adult safeguarding: types of abuse, Making Safeguarding Personal and referral

Safeguarding is one of those topics that isn't just about passing the UKMLA AKT—it's about being a safe, compassionate doctor. It’s all about protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from a

Assessing mental capacity: two-stage test, best interest checklist and IMCA

Mental capacity is a huge topic for the AKT, especially since it's governed by the **Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005**. It’s all about balancing a patient's autonomy with our duty of care. Let's break

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS): when to apply and legal framework

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) is a critical part of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 in England and Wales. It's designed to protect people who lack the mental capacity to consent to their

Duty of candour: GMC requirements when things go wrong

The **Duty of Candour** is a fundamental ethical and legal requirement for all doctors in the UK. It’s essentially the professional obligation to be open and honest with patients when something goes w

Suicide risk assessment: structured approach, protective factors and safety planning

This is such a critical topic, not just for the UKMLA AKT, but for your future clinical practice. Suicide risk assessment can feel daunting, but having a structured framework makes it much more manage

Bipolar disorder: mania vs hypomania, lithium monitoring and mood stabilisers

Hey! Bipolar disorder is an absolute staple for the UKMLA AKT. The examiners love to trip people up on the nuances between mania and hypomania, and the lithium monitoring rules are basically guarantee

Clozapine: indications, monitoring requirements and serious side effects

Clozapine is a bit of a "heavy hitter" in psychiatry—it's often the last resort, but it can be absolutely life-changing for patients who haven't responded to other treatments. Since you're prepping fo

Mental Health Act sections: Section 2, 3, 5(2), 136 — when and how to use

Navigating the Mental Health Act (MHA) can feel like a legal maze, but for the UKMLA AKT, you really just need to know the "who, where, and how long" for each section. It's all about balancing patient

Psychosis: first episode assessment, antipsychotic choice and side effect comparison

Psychosis can be one of the most challenging but fascinating areas of psychiatry to master for the AKT. When a patient presents with their first episode of psychosis (FEP), the goal is early intervent

Schizophrenia: Schneider's first-rank symptoms, antipsychotics and side effects

Schizophrenia is a heavy-hitter for the UKMLA AKT, and getting a solid grip on Schneider's symptoms and the nuances of antipsychotics is key. It's one of those topics where the side effects are just a

Depression: PHQ-9, NICE stepped care model and antidepressant selection

Depression is a massive topic for the AKT, but NICE breaks it down into a very logical "stepped care" approach. Before we dive into the management, we usually start by quantifying the severity using t

Generalised anxiety disorder: GAD-7, diagnosis and NICE management pathway

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a common condition characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of daily life. For the UKMLA AKT, it's essential to know the diagnostic

Insomnia: sleep hygiene, CBT-I and when to prescribe hypnotics

Insomnia is one of those topics that sounds simple until you're the one staring at the ceiling at 3 AM! For the UKMLA AKT, it's really important to know the hierarchy of management, as the UK guidelin

OCD: diagnosis, CBT with ERP and SSRI management

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of those conditions that can be incredibly debilitating for patients, but the management is actually quite structured once you get the hang of it. For the UK

PTSD: diagnostic criteria, trauma-focused CBT and EMDR

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a significant topic for the UKMLA AKT, especially understanding how it's diagnosed and the specific psychological interventions recommended by NICE guidelines.