The psychiatric interview is based on historical conventions, medical traditions and clinical experience.
Components of the psychiatric interview:
- Personal data.
- Reason for referral or a call for assistance.
- History-taking of the presenting complaints.
- Mental status examination.
- Psychiatric history/previous treatment or disorders.
- Use of drugs and medicines.
- Psychiatric and somatic family history/familial predisposition.
- Biography.
- Review of systems and physical examination.
- Hetero-anamnesis.
- Any additional tests (laboratory, imaging and neuropsychological tests).