Erika Hightower
Mindy Wright
Mindy Wright | Interview the Patient | Review
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Answers and Rationale
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1.
You said that you are experiencing some periods of sadness.
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
Because the criteria for depression involve identification of
symptoms of sadness, dejection, anger, guilt, helplessness,
hopelessness, despondency, etc., this broad opening allows
the client to start speaking about what “sadness” means to
her. Relevant Relevant
Client: Yes. It started about 2 months ago and I thought I could work through it myself.
2.
Do you get the sensation of heart palpitations when you are feeling sad?
Rationale Relevancy Your Answer
Physical symptoms such as heart palpitations occur
with anxiety, not depression. Irrelevant Irrelevant
Client: I do not have heart palpitations.
3.
Does it seem like your feelings of sadness occur at certain times of the year? (Do you feel
better in the summer, for example?)
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
Seasonal affective disorder is identified by seasonal variances
in the depressive symptoms. The client’s symptoms have
been occurring for only 2 months so it may be hard for her to
quantify whether the season makes a difference. Irrelevant Irrelevant
Client: Not that I know of. This has only been going on for 2 months.
4.
Did something in particular happen that triggered these feelings of sadness?
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
, Depression can begin after a situational occurrence that is
of significance to the client. It is important to understand if
an event in the client’s life precipitated her symptoms. Relevant Relevant
Client: Yes. These feelings started shortly after my mom died. She had been sick a long
time so we knew she was dying, but I just really miss her. I don’t know why God allowed
her to be that sick and suffer so much. I thought I was prepared for her death, but I
continue to think about her dying and how much she suffered.
5.
Have you ever experienced the feeling of a “racing heart?”
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
Physical symptoms such as heart palpitations and the
sensation of a “racing heart” occur with anxiety, not
depression. Irrelevant Irrelevant
Client: I’ve never felt like that.
6.
Are you experiencing clammy hands or breaking out in a sweat when you begin feeling sad
or depressed?
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
Physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, the sensation
of a “racing heart,” clammy hands, and breaking out in a
sweat occur with anxiety, not depression. Irrelevant Irrelevant
Client: I do not have clammy hands, nor do I break out in a sweat when I feel sad.
7.
How long after your mother passed away did you start feeling depressed?
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
Establishing a timeline for the onset of symptoms is
important, as the psychiatrist will use this information to
determine whether the client has acute or chronic
depression. Relevant Relevant
Client: Probably about a week—after the funeral, and after all of my out-of-town relatives
went home. I felt like my life was empty. I would start to call or go see my mom and then
would remember that she was gone.
8.
How would you describe the sadness that you feel?
, Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
It is important to understand the way the client classifies and
describes her own symptoms. The psychiatrist, when
determining the degree of depression, will also use this
information. Relevant Relevant
Client: It’s kind of hard to explain, but it’s like there is a fog around me. I can’t get
motivated to do anything, and it just seems like I can’t go on like this. I just feel like I don’t
have any hope left.
9.
Do you find it hard to get out of bed, get showered, and get to work?
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
It is not uncommon for clients with depression to experience
difficulty thinking, obsessive and repetitive thoughts,
negativism, and/or behaviors indicating suicidal ideation. They
also commonly experience low energy level, fatigue, and
listlessness.
Relevant Relevant
Client: Sometimes I just stay in bed in my pajamas and keep the lights all turned off. I go
to work when I can, but I’ve had to call off work a few times because I feel so drained.
10.
Have you taken anything to try to alleviate the symptoms?
Relevanc Your
Rationale y Answer
With over-the-counter herbal preparations targeted at allaying
depression symptoms, it is important to know if the client has
tried to take anything to address the symptoms. This question
also addresses whether the client has tried illicit substances to
ease the symptoms. Relevant Relevant
Client: No. I’ve just tried to work through it myself.
11.
Have you had these kinds of feelings before in your life?
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
This information is important in understanding whether the
client has a history of depressive symptoms or whether this
is a first incidence. Relevant Relevant
Client: No. I’ve never felt like this before. In fact, I have always been a pretty happy
Mindy Wright
Mindy Wright | Interview the Patient | Review
Back Continue
Answers and Rationale
Your responses and feedback are displayed below. For more information regarding feedback, click
"Help".
When you are finished reviewing, click "Continue" to proceed to next section.
1.
You said that you are experiencing some periods of sadness.
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
Because the criteria for depression involve identification of
symptoms of sadness, dejection, anger, guilt, helplessness,
hopelessness, despondency, etc., this broad opening allows
the client to start speaking about what “sadness” means to
her. Relevant Relevant
Client: Yes. It started about 2 months ago and I thought I could work through it myself.
2.
Do you get the sensation of heart palpitations when you are feeling sad?
Rationale Relevancy Your Answer
Physical symptoms such as heart palpitations occur
with anxiety, not depression. Irrelevant Irrelevant
Client: I do not have heart palpitations.
3.
Does it seem like your feelings of sadness occur at certain times of the year? (Do you feel
better in the summer, for example?)
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
Seasonal affective disorder is identified by seasonal variances
in the depressive symptoms. The client’s symptoms have
been occurring for only 2 months so it may be hard for her to
quantify whether the season makes a difference. Irrelevant Irrelevant
Client: Not that I know of. This has only been going on for 2 months.
4.
Did something in particular happen that triggered these feelings of sadness?
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
, Depression can begin after a situational occurrence that is
of significance to the client. It is important to understand if
an event in the client’s life precipitated her symptoms. Relevant Relevant
Client: Yes. These feelings started shortly after my mom died. She had been sick a long
time so we knew she was dying, but I just really miss her. I don’t know why God allowed
her to be that sick and suffer so much. I thought I was prepared for her death, but I
continue to think about her dying and how much she suffered.
5.
Have you ever experienced the feeling of a “racing heart?”
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
Physical symptoms such as heart palpitations and the
sensation of a “racing heart” occur with anxiety, not
depression. Irrelevant Irrelevant
Client: I’ve never felt like that.
6.
Are you experiencing clammy hands or breaking out in a sweat when you begin feeling sad
or depressed?
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
Physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, the sensation
of a “racing heart,” clammy hands, and breaking out in a
sweat occur with anxiety, not depression. Irrelevant Irrelevant
Client: I do not have clammy hands, nor do I break out in a sweat when I feel sad.
7.
How long after your mother passed away did you start feeling depressed?
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
Establishing a timeline for the onset of symptoms is
important, as the psychiatrist will use this information to
determine whether the client has acute or chronic
depression. Relevant Relevant
Client: Probably about a week—after the funeral, and after all of my out-of-town relatives
went home. I felt like my life was empty. I would start to call or go see my mom and then
would remember that she was gone.
8.
How would you describe the sadness that you feel?
, Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
It is important to understand the way the client classifies and
describes her own symptoms. The psychiatrist, when
determining the degree of depression, will also use this
information. Relevant Relevant
Client: It’s kind of hard to explain, but it’s like there is a fog around me. I can’t get
motivated to do anything, and it just seems like I can’t go on like this. I just feel like I don’t
have any hope left.
9.
Do you find it hard to get out of bed, get showered, and get to work?
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
It is not uncommon for clients with depression to experience
difficulty thinking, obsessive and repetitive thoughts,
negativism, and/or behaviors indicating suicidal ideation. They
also commonly experience low energy level, fatigue, and
listlessness.
Relevant Relevant
Client: Sometimes I just stay in bed in my pajamas and keep the lights all turned off. I go
to work when I can, but I’ve had to call off work a few times because I feel so drained.
10.
Have you taken anything to try to alleviate the symptoms?
Relevanc Your
Rationale y Answer
With over-the-counter herbal preparations targeted at allaying
depression symptoms, it is important to know if the client has
tried to take anything to address the symptoms. This question
also addresses whether the client has tried illicit substances to
ease the symptoms. Relevant Relevant
Client: No. I’ve just tried to work through it myself.
11.
Have you had these kinds of feelings before in your life?
Your
Rationale Relevancy Answer
This information is important in understanding whether the
client has a history of depressive symptoms or whether this
is a first incidence. Relevant Relevant
Client: No. I’ve never felt like this before. In fact, I have always been a pretty happy
