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Psychiatric evaluation—General tips
Psychiatric history-taking: Seek answers to specific questions, in order of priority
Psychiatric evaluation: Patients can do a lot more than we think
To make psychiatric documentation more useful, “Show, don’t tell”
Psychiatric evaluation—Interviewing skills
Ways of using the person’s name, and of others in their life, to build rapport
Psychiatric Interviewing: Interview with Shawn Christopher Shea, MD
What’s in a name? Unconventional suggestions for what to call the people we are helping
Don’t prematurely offer a box of tissues to a patient who is crying
Three no-no’s in the waiting room
How to EFFECTIVELY screen patients for possible bipolar disorder
Tips for interviewing: Patients with dementia
Tips on evaluating patients for remaining or residual symptoms
Tips on obtaining the psychiatric medication history
Videos about psychiatric interviewing
Click the link below to play. Or, if you want to download the file to your own device, right-click on the link and choose “Save link as”
Psychiatric Interviewing-Part 1-Shawn Shea, MD
Psychiatric Interviewing-Part 2-Suicide Assessment-Shawn Shea, MD
Psychiatric Interviewing-Part 3-Validity Techniques-Shawn Shea, MD
Psychiatric Interviewing-Part 4-Interviewing paranoid patients-Shawn Shea, MD
Psychiatric Interviewing-Part 5-Medication Interest Model-Shawn Shea, MD
Psychiatric Interviewing-Part 6-About the book-Shawn Shea, MD
Psychiatric evaluation—Symptoms and signs
Commonly misunderstood terms in symptoms and signs
The terms “blunted affect” and “flat affect” are often used inappropriately
Psychiatric evaluation—Suicidality
The Three Step Ladder: A better, easier way to start to ask about suicidal ideation
Quick tips in suicide assessment: Interview with Jack Krasuski, MD
How NOT to talk about suicide
Psychiatric Interviewing-Part 2-Suicide Assessment-Shawn Shea, MD
Psychiatric evaluation—Physical examination
Psychiatric evaluation—Cognitive biases
Beware of possible cognitive biases during diagnostic evaluations
Strategies for cognitive debiasing related to diagnosis
Why and how to manage the “therapeutic illusion”
Psychiatric evaluation—YouTube videos Copyright © 2024 to 2026, Simple and Practical Medical Education, LLC. All rights reserved. The content on this website may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission. Disclaimer: The material on this website is provided as general education for medical professionals. It is not intended for patients or other laypersons, nor is it a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients must always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding their diagnosis and treatment. Healthcare professionals should always check this website for the most up-to-date information.Psychiatric evaluation—Resources
BEST books on psychiatric interviewing
Psychiatric Interviewing: The Art of Understanding (Book Review)
Psychiatric Interviewing-Part 6-About the book-Shawn Shea, MD
Psychiatric Interviews for Teaching: Psychosis (Link to YouTube)
Psychiatric Interviews for Teaching: Depression (Link to YouTube)
Psychiatric Interviews for Teaching: Anxiety (Link to YouTube)
Psychiatric Interviews for Teaching: Mania (Link to YouTube)
Acute dystonic reaction to an antipsychotic (Link to YouTube)