Question

What are questions appropriate to discuss with a patient who is elderly and depressed in order to understand the significance of his or her mood disorder?

Answer 1

The questions appropriate to discuss with a patient who is elderly and depressed in order to understand the significance of his or her mood disorder are :-

First of all we have to use therapeutic communication techniques when we are interacting with the patients .

With a mood disorder patient we should ask :-

- how are you feeling today.

- do you have any suicidal thoughts.

- you seems to be anxious.

- how was your sleep yesterday.

- how many times did you feel down the past week .

- do you prefer to stay home rather than going out.

- what are your strengths .

- do you have difficulty in reading books

- do you think that there is something wrong with you.

- do you often feel anxious.

- you are looking happy today .

- your shoes are looking so beautiful

- have you ever had thoughts of harming yourself.

- can you tell about your relationship with your children.

- do you feel difficulty in doing daily activities.

The characteristics of the interview questions are:-

a) simple and clear.

b) interviewer must have a eye contact with the patient.

c) questions must be open ended.

d) must encourage to verbalize the feeling of patients.

e) while interviewing the surrounding environment must be calm and quiet .

f) if recording of answers are necessary , consents must be taken before interview.

g) if the patient is withdrawn we should use observational method to make them express there feelings.