2.1Corehistory-takingskillsAs with a general medical history, it is important to start with open questionsand then move to more closed questions to elicit specific details. Openquestions arenon-specific,for example'can youtell mehow you've been feelingrecently?,or 'canyoutell me about some of the problems you've beenexperiencing recently?'.They encourage the patient to describe problems ordifficulties in his/her own words.They enable a great deal of information to beobtained bytheuseofrelatively fewquestions,which canmaketheinterviewprocedure more efficient and less time consuming.Closed questions usuallygive the patient a fixed choice with two or three alternatives, (e.g. would you saythat your moodis about the same as last week, better thanlast week orworsethan last week?). They should be used sparingly, as they are time consumingand,if used a lot, can make the interviewer appear pedantic and unempathic
2.1 Core history-taking skills • As with a general medical history, it is important to start with open questions and then move to more closed questions to elicit specific details. Open questions are non-specific, for example 'can you tell me how you've been feeling recently? ’, or 'can you tell me about some of the problems you’ve been experiencing recently?’. They encourage the patient to describe problems or difficulties in his/her own words. They enable a great deal of information to be obtained by the use of relatively few questions, which can make the interview procedure more efficient and less time consuming. Closed questions usually give the patient a fixed choice with two or three alternatives, (e.g. would you say that your mood is about the same as last week, better than last week or worse than last week?). They should be used sparingly, as they are time consuming and, if used a lot, can make the interviewer appear pedantic and unempathic
2.1Corehistory-takingskillsIf the patient is finding it difficult to describe his/her experiences, It can behelpful torespond bymaking encouraging noises,ornods,ormakingunderstanding statements (e.g.that sounds difficult,that must have beenhard foryou).This is called facilitation,and it is an extremely usefultechnique to learn as it encourages patients to talk in depth aboutdifficulties.It helps the psychiatrist to assess the severity of mood state orabnormalpsychologicalexperiences
2.1 Core history-taking skills • If the patient is finding it difficult to describe his/her experiences, It can be helpful to respond by making encouraging noises, or nods, or making understanding statements (e.g. that sounds difficult , that must have been hard for you ). This is called facilitation, and it is an extremely useful technique to learn as it encourages patients to talk in depth about difficulties. It helps the psychiatrist to assess the severity of mood state or abnormal psychological experiences
2.1Corehistory-takingskillsCue-based responses are also helpful in eliciting information aboutmood.The interviewer can pick up on the patient's non-verbal or verbalcues.Non-verbal cuesrelate to the patient's body language,which maybeindicative of a particular mood state (e.g.anxiety,depression or anger)Verbal cues relate to the language or tone of voice that the patient uses inconversation, which may be suggestive of some underlying mood state.Ifthe interviewer chooses to make a cue-based response,it is bestto couchit in a tentative manner, so that the patient can choose either to accept orreject it, without this damaging the overall interviewer-patient relationship(e.g. although you say you're coping...when you were talking about yourson, just now, I noticed your eyes fill with tears.. and I'm not sure...butIstillfeelvervlupset)onderedwhether1-
2.1 Core history-taking skills • Cue-based responses are also helpful in eliciting information about mood. The interviewer can pick up on the patient's non-verbal or verbal cues. Non-verbal cues relate to the patient's body language, which may be indicative of a particular mood state (e.g. anxiety, depression or anger). Verbal cues relate to the language or tone of voice that the patient uses in conversation, which may be suggestive of some underlying mood state. If the interviewer chooses to make a cue- based response, it is best to couch it in a tentative manner, so that the patient can choose either to accept or reject it, without this damaging the overall interviewer -patient relationship (e.g. although you say you’re coping,. when you were talking about your son, just now, I noticed your eyes fill with tears . and I’m not sure . but I wondered whether you still feel very upset)
2.1Corehistory-takingskillsAs well as being able to elicit information from the patient, andencourage the patient to talk freely, it is also important to be able to controlthe interview.The purpose of history-taking is to collect specificinformation in a logical and systematized way to enable thedoctor to makeadiagnosis andformulate theproblem.On some occasions,particularly ifthe interviewee is very garrulous or circumstantial, the doctor may have tointerrupt and be more directive,without appearing rude or insensitive.Thisis best done in the following manner:acknowledge what the patient hasbeen talking about, explain thatthis has been helpful, explain thatyouneedtoask about other parts ofhis/her lifeand ask thepatient'spermissionto dothis
2.1 Core history-taking skills • As well as being able to elicit information from the patient, and encourage the patient to talk freely, it is also important to be able to control the interview. The purpose of history-taking is to collect specific information in a logical and systematized way to enable the doctor to make a diagnosis and formulate the problem. On some occasions, particularly if the interviewee is very garrulous or circumstantial, the doctor may have to interrupt and be more directive, without appearing rude or insensitive. This is best done in the following manner: acknowledge what the patient has been talking about, explain that this has been helpful, explain that you need to ask about other parts of his/her life and ask the patient's permission to do this
2.1Corehistory-takingskillsIt canalso behelpfulto summarizeinformation,to check with thepatientthatthedetailsare correct.Forexample,letme just check ifImay,thatI've understood you correctly...you've been feeling worse this last week,your mood has been low all the time, you've not,been sleeping well,waking at 4.o0 a.m.most nights, you've lost interest in eating and you'venot seen anyone all week'.This kind of summary helps the doctor tocheck that he/she has understood things correctly, and,it is usuallyperceived bythe patient as being very empathic.It can also provide thebasis formovingonto enguireaboutmoresensitiveissues,suchas,inthe above example,the doctor could move on to asking about suicidalideation
2.1 Core history-taking skills • It can also be helpful to summarize information, to check with the patient that the details are correct. For example, let me just check if I may, that I've understood you correctly. you’ve been feeling worse this last week, your mood has been low all the time, you've not , been sleeping well, waking at 4.00 a.m. most nights, you've lost interest in eating and you’ve not seen anyone all week’. This kind of summary helps the doctor to check that he/she has understood things correctly, and , it is usually perceived by the patient as being very empathic. It can also provide the basis for moving on to enquire about more sensitive issues, such as, in the above example ,the doctor could move on to asking about suicidal ideation