Interviewing skills and the detection of psychiatric problems

Abstract

Recent research from the University Department of Pychiatry at Manchester is reviewed. Doctors who are skilled in the detection of psychiatric problems elicit twice as many cues from their emotionally distressed patients as doctors who are poor at recognizing psychiatric disorder. Less able doctors prevent their patients from giving them verbal and non-verbal cues to the correct diagnosis. The interviewing styles of these doctors differ in that the more skilled doctors conduct a ‘patient-led’ interview, clarifying the patient's problem and facilitating discussion rather than a hurried ‘theory-led’ interview. Doctors who are good at detecting psychiatric disorders also give better information, advice and prescribe more effectively to all their patients than other doctors. Improved interview skills can be taught individually or in groups to general practitioners by video recording and feedback. An outline for teaching relevant skills is described.