The Structure

Having a framework is important when conducting the interview. It's a useful way of ensuring you don’t forget anything. Referring back to it can help you maintain flow and progression through the interview (...even if things screech to a halt!)

Examples of how to phrase questions in each of the sections are included - please do remember these are only examples and will not be suitable in every situation. You should adapt them for each patient as is appropriate. The structure used here has three parts; beginning, middle and end.

The Beginning...

Introduce yourself and explain the nature of the interview - its important you clearly state you will be probing into most aspects of the patients life and spending some time uncovering the necessary details.

'I am going to need to find out in some detail about yourself, your life and what has been happening to you recently this will take one hour or so...'

Explain the confidentiality and tell them you may be writing things down finally ensure the patient has has understood everything and get verbal consent. It is useful to get the ball rolling by building the patient profile this can give you a quick insight into the patients background which can be a helpful foundation to build the other sections of the interview on.

‘Ok I’ll just start off with a few preliminary details… can I have your full name, age and current occupation... now if I could ask what your marital status is and where you are currently living ’

The first and probably most important section of the history is the presenting complaint. Initially use open questions to get as much of the information as possible. Proceed with closed questions to establish the full details of the presenting complaint.

'What is the main problem at the moment?'

'Tell me all about it right from the start'

'What exactly do you you mean by... (depressed, worried, confused etc...)?

Finally get the details you need by closed questioning.

'When did it begin? get worse? get better? what has affected it?...ect'

'How has this affected your appetite? concentration? family life?...etc'

'What have you done when this has been at its worse?'