title: The initial patient interview. Identifying when psychosocial factors are at work.
abstract: Timely identification of psychosocial factors is crucial to the diagnosis and treatment of all patients. Identification depends on the use of interview techniques that maximize the patient's opportunity to raise psychosocial concerns. In addition to recognition of psychosocial factors, management of "difficult" patients requires identification of their unstated demands and a capacity to respond in a neutral, rational manner.
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*