HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Llewellyn-Jones, S. Articles by Donnelly, P. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Llewellyn-Jones, S. Articles by Donnelly, P.

Questions patients ask psychiatrists

Cefn Coed Hospital, Waunarlwydd Road, Cockett, Swansea SA2 OGH

AIMS AND METHOD

To identify the questions patients most commonly ask their psychiatrist. For 200 consecutive psychiatric patient consultations, answers to the invitation, "Do you have any questions you wish to ask me?" were recorded along with diagnosis. The most frequently asked questions were noted and compared across patient groups.

RESULTS

Most patients wanted to know when medication could be reduced or stopped. Some patients asked for more medication. Concerns about side-effects and fitness to drive were also common. A high proportion of patients (21-57%) asked no questions.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Psychiatrists must be prepared to answer questions effectively on the necessity and benefits of long term medication. These may be useful facts to include in a patient information leaflet. Side-effects of medication should also be taken seriously. Many patients lead impoverished social lives, with low levels of interpersonal interaction. This may be a barrier to participation in the clinical interview, and diminish the likelihood of posing questions.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Schneider, H. Scissons, L. Arney, G. Benson, J. Derry, K. Lucas, M. Misurelli, D. Nickerson, and M. Sunderland Communication Between People With Schizophrenia and Their Medical Professionals: A Participatory Research Project Qual Health Res, April 1, 2004; 14(4): 562 - 577. [Abstract] [PDF]