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Diagnostic interviewing
As your patient’s story unfolds you should begin to take the interview in
a direction which will provide you with the information to come up with a differential
diagnosis. In the UK most psychiatrists work by the International Statistical Classification
of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (IDC-10)
to diagnose mental illness.
Diagnostic interviewing is they
key to ascertain if the patients experiences and behaviours fit a specific diagnosis.
The site includes 'diagnostic interviews' for the common conditions under
the six major classifications of mental illness...
Cognitive disorders
Schizophrenia
Mania & Hypomania
Depressive disorders
Neurotic disorders
Somatic and somatoform
Eating disorders
Substance Misuse
Each section outlines...
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Criteria for major mental illnesses
within ICD-10
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Diagnostic interviewing questions
for each disorder
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Triggers for when to assess
for each disorder
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Clinical signs associated with
disorders
Your aim should be to collect all the necessary details whilst keeping a good rapport.
As you get more practice you will become more skilled at the task. Important skills
for diagnostic interviewing are knowing when to assess for a specific condition,
how to assess and what conditions to rule out.
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