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. 2014;7(Spec Iss 4):39–45.

Table 1.

Interview content to be considered when dealing with a patient suffering from a psychosomatic or psychological disorder (Popa-Velea et al., 2013)

Element of the interview Usefulness
Making an inventory of the whole set of problems, not just of the current issue Highlights problems and correlations not obvious to the patient, but relevant for his / her suffering or which may explain previous failures
Testing patient’s emotional involvement and motivation Offers information about the amount of resources the patient has in coping with his / her illness
Obtaining detailed information regarding the conditions in which the symptoms occur Allows comprehension of certain patterns, such as the role of conditioned responses in symptom’s development and suggests ways to interrupt them
Understanding patient’s vision on the illness and the treatment Warns the therapist about possible issues which may increase resistance to therapy
Investigating the coping strategies that are the most preferred by the patient in problematic situations Uncovers unproductive, harmful or inefficient coping strategies, possibly approachable via counseling or psychotherapy
Exploring the psychological impact of the treatment / of previous hospitalizations Has a contribution in increasing the level of “basic” trust in the relationship with the current therapist
Investigating the intensity and the quality of social and familial relationships Allows discovery of underlying pathogenic elements (e.g. personality disorders). Reveals key individuals, able to provide support under critical circumstances.