OSCE Toolbox | Patient Survey 1 - Scenario

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Scenarios

By Leya Luhar • March 16, 2026 • Last reviewed: 2026-03-16 •

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Summary Beginner

In this scenario, the student pharmacist has been asked to fill out the PHQ-9 depression screening questionnaire with an adult patient presenting with low mood, record and score the responses, and then explain the result and advise the patient on appropriate next steps and support.

Please ensure that this scenario and mark scheme aligns with the most up-to-date guidelines from the UK NICE and the BNF when using it for your OSCE assessment

You will need a student pharmacist and an actor for this OSCE station.

Revision Topics

Be aware, this may reveal any answers!

Student Instructions

Actor Instructions

This may reveal scenario objectives!

You are Aisha Rahman (EYE-sha RAH-muhn)

Opening statement: “I’ve just been feeling really low and tired… I’m not myself.”

Patient information:

To be given if the student asks.

Name: Aisha Rahman

Age: 46

Past medical history:

- “I don’t have any conditions.”

Medication History:

- “I don’t take any medications.”

Symptoms:

- “I am not currently experiencing anything physical.”

Lifestyle factors:

- “I drink alcohol occasionally - maybe one glass every other weekend.”
- “I have never smoked.”
- “I have never done any recreational drugs.”

If the student asks the PHQ-9 questions, respond exactly as follows.

ONLY respond with the phrases down below if the student gives you the options. Otherwise, seem confused about how to quantify symptoms.

PHQ-9 Question	Patient Response	Score
1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things	“More than half the days”	2
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless	“Nearly every day”	3
3. Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much	“More than half the days”	2
4. Feeling tired or having little energy	“Nearly every day”	3
5. Poor appetite or overeating	“Several days”	1
6. Feeling bad about yourself	“More than half the days”	2
7. Trouble concentrating	“Several days”	1
8. Moving or speaking slowly or being fidgety	“Not at all”	0
9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead or hurting yourself	“Several days” - start pretending to cry! If asked for more information: “I don’t want to hurt myself… it’s more just thinking everyone would be better off without me sometimes.”	1
How difficult have these problems made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?	“Ummm, a bit difficult I guess, I’ve called in sick to work a couple of times and said I had diarrhoea so that I could stay in bed all day. I’m not usually that social anyways but I’ve managed to keep up with everything else”

If asked about duration: “It’s been about a month now.”

If asked about support: “I haven’t really told anyone properly. I have some good friends I live with but they’re busy and I don’t want to burden them.”

Mark Scheme