Interpersonal Skills in Interviewing Patients for Mental Health Diagnosis

Nursing heavily relies on communication with patients and other healthcare providers. Excellent interpersonal skills among nurses are pivotal for meaningful diagnosis of illnesses. Communication is the heart of any nurse-patient interaction. Learn about the signs and symptoms of mental disorders, clinical interventions, and patient education. Read more on Desklib.

Mental health.
Interpersonal skills in interviewing patient.
Nursing is a profession that heavily relies on the communication with the patient and other health
care providers. For a meaningful diagnosis of an illnesses in a patient, excellent interpersonal
skills among the nurses is pivotal. According to Bach & Grant, (2015), the interaction between a
nurse and a patient can only be fruitful when approached carefully to build a rapport and the rest
will run smoothly.
Communication is the heart of any nurse patient interaction. Information ought to smoothly flow
to influence the participation of either parties. The basics of communication incorporates a five
component circuit; sender, message, means, recipient and a feedback (Arnold & Boggs, 2015).
Communication involves the passing of messages from a sender to the recipient using an
appropriate means. All the participants must take part for it to be said to have happened. To
facilitate communication, I would first create a rapport that would enable us to proceed
smoothly. By first asking the patient some questions unrelated to their disease and assuring him
of your commitment to his wellbeing. By addressing them by his name, Mr. Barry would feel
that I am making an effort to identify myself with him. It helps build some confidence. I would
ensure that we communicate in a language that both of us understand or seek the help of an
interpreter if need be.
Listening is an essential trait in any interaction with a patient (Bramhall, 2014). A good listener
allows for time for the other person to put across their input without interruption. A nurse should
make use of open ended questions and allow the patient express themselves freely. Listening
should be an active process, in the sense that, the person talking should be able see that you are

listening to them. In some instances, I would node with agreement and maintain an eye contact.
In some instances, take notes where necessary. This will make Mr. Barry see that I am concerned
about his condition. This will be a way of encouraging him to give more information about his
condition. He needs reassurances that something will be done despite the fact that he already
feels he is a wreck
Patience cannot be overlooked especially in patients who seem nervous and mentally disturbed.
They may tend to make some incomprehensible statements (Blais, 2015). Some may talk so fast.
From the case scenario, Mr. Barry has been described as restless and stressed up. He has a lot
racing in his mind. An initial attempt to interview him would be to calm him down. It may take
some time and that emphasizes the need to be patient with him.
Signs and symptoms of mental disorder.
They can be broadly classified into emotional and physical signs and symptoms (Barkley, 2014).
Emotional signs revolve around the personality and the behavioral disorders. Physical signs are
elicited from the body changes that occur as consequence of the mental disturbance. An example
is weight loss.
Mr. Barry shows signs of anxiety. He was observed to be looking around anxiously and seemed
to be more restless than other patients. By this particular behavior one can conclude that he has
some concerns that are not necessarily physical illness (Taylor, 2014). He seems to be so much
concerned about his family and children. He feels that there are some problems that need to be
addressed but feels helpless. His emotional outburst is likely a consequence of being retrenched
from the local telephone company. He seems unable to predict the future and uncertain of what

may ensue with the current state of affairs. He has worries even for his adult children and feels
he can’t cope with their problems
He presents with some disruptions in the daily routine that he cannot control. His eating and
sleeping patterns have been disrupted. His normal routine disruption may result from
psychological stresses. An individual is unable to sleep due to anxiety, stress, pain and
discomfort. Mr. Barry is stressed of the thing he cannot control. He cannot have proper sleep
worrying about his health and money problems. In stressful situation, the brain releases
neurotransmitters that are involved in suppressing the sleep and hunger centers in the brain. The
consciousness centers are stimulated and there is an increased sympathetic tone. This translate to
sleep disruptions and a raised level of consciousness.
Physical signs such as an increased blood pressure and a decrease in the body weight per age
may also be an indicator especially when accompanying other emotional symptoms (McGee,
2016). Mr. Barry shows presents with an increased heart rate and episodic shortness of breath.
These signs show an increased in sympathetic tome and an inhibition of parasympathetic system.
He also presents with a decreased weight per age. This may be attributed to the digestive upsets
and the increased sympathetic outflow which increases metabolism and breakdown of fats in the
body. These signs, though presented physically are an indicator of existing mental health issues.
The relationship may be missed if behavioral symptoms are not clearly identified
Clinical interventions.
Psychosocial therapy will address his emotional, social and mental dimensions in order to
address anxiety disorder. This intervention includes a complex interaction between the past
events and their interpretation with regards to their effect on the present ones (Ross, 2017). In

mental health one may try to convince him that there are still other opportunities to explore in
life beyond unemployment. All his problems seem to be centered around the fact that he is
jobless and fears that he may not be in a position to support his family effectively. An attempt
should be made to make him view the circumstance as just a challenge that will enable him be
more constructive in life problems. He still within the working age and can secure a job. It might
be an opportunity to think of he can start his own business. He can also be encouraged to create
social bonds to help him cope and avert depression that may soon ensue without social help.
The anxiety can also be addressed using body mind techniques. Relaxation can be very helpful to
help reduce the heartrate to normal. It involves a deliberate effort to concentrate one’s energy
into addressing the issue that is stressful. Mr. Barry can benefit from a session where he is
advised to practice meditation when he feels stressed up.
His disturbed sleeping pattern and digestive upsets may be offset medically. These symptoms
have occurred secondary to anxiety disorder. Treating the primary cause will solve the secondary
presentations (Morey, 2015). Pharmacotherapy is usually a second line approach in dealing with
anxiety after other non-medical ones. Anxiolytic agents can be administered by the psychiatrist
to alleviate these symptoms. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the first line drugs. Mr.
Barry may benefit from this approach. TCA may be used as the second line if the SSRI fail to
work.
Venlafaxine is a Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (Procyshyn, Bezchlibnyk-
Butler, & Jeffries, 2017). They increase the amount and time which free serotonin is available on
its receptor. This leads to downregulation of the receptor. Serotonin regulates the mood and
behavior such as appetite and sleep in an individual. this drug is prescribed as a remedy for

anxiety. The drugs effect takes some time to set in. therefore the patient should wait for some
time to allow for it to take effect and reduce the anxiety.
Patient education.
For a slow release capsule, Mr. Barry should swallow it whole. He should not try to crash them
or chew them. The drug is taken with food. Sometimes, to make it easily consumable, one may
opt to open it up and sprinkle it in food in order to take it in small duration intervals (Winner,
2015). This is okay as long as they don’t chew it and all the medicine is taken at ago. Nothing
should be preserved for later consumption. He should try to consume the drug at approximately
the same time to ensure that therapeutic concentrations are maintained throughout.
The drug should be stored at room temperature away from heat and moisture. He should continue
taking the medicine even though sometimes it may seem as if it is not working. He should allow
for some time for its effects to set in. if he feels that it is not working, he should not discontinue
unless he is advised so by the doctor. Unpleasant side effects may be observed if the medication
is stopped abruptly (Aftab, 2015). Mr. Barry rarely takes alcohol. Under this circumstances, he
should not take any alcohol to avoid some side effects associated with its consumption while
taking the medication. He should also avoid activities that require him to be alert such a driving.
Venlafaxine impairs thinking and reaction. This may pose a threat to his safety if he is involved
in dangerous activities.
Mr. Barry should be well aware of the side effects that are likely to ensue once he starts taking
the medication. He should not be allergic to the drug thus he should be vigilant to catch any signs
of allergy. It may result into a swollen tongue, rash, hives and difficulty in breathing. If such
signs are noted, one should avoid using these drugs and seek medical attention.

He should be aware of probable drug interactions that may be dangerous (Spina, Pisani, & de
Leon, 2016). In case they want to take NSAIDs, they should consult their doctor on the one they
should take. There is an increased antiplatelet effect by using it with these drugs. This poses a
great danger if they are injured since they may lose a lot of blood in the process. Other drugs that
he should consult before taking are: any other anti-depressants, anticoagulants and drugs to treat
migraine
According to Lader (2015), common side effects associated with venlafaxine include: changes
in vision, dizziness, headaches, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, increased sex
drive, sweating and fast heartbeats. He should be aware of these effects for him to be
psychologically prepared. If they persist or increase he can always consult a doctor for further
assistance. Immediately consult a doctor if seizures occurred.
References.
Bach, S., & Grant, A. (2015). Communication and interpersonal skills in nursing. Learning
Matters.
Arnold, E. C., & Boggs, K. U. (2015). Interpersonal Relationships-E-Book: Professional
Communication Skills for Nurses. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Blais, K. (2015). Professional nursing practice: Concepts and perspectives. Pearson.
Bramhall, E. (2014). Effective communication skills in nursing practice. Nursing Standard
(2014+), 29(14), 53.
Taylor, S. (Ed.). (2014). Anxiety sensitivity: Theory, research, and treatment of the fear of
anxiety. Routledge.

Barkley, R. A. (Ed.). (2014). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis
and treatment. Guilford Publications.
McGee, S. (2016). Evidence-Based Physical Diagnosis E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Ross, C. E. (2017). Social causes of psychological distress. Routledge.
Morey, L. C. (2015). Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Procyshyn, R. M., Bezchlibnyk-Butler, K. Z., & Jeffries, J. J. (Eds.). (2017). Clinical handbook
of psychotropic drugs. Hogrefe Publishing.
Lader, M. (2015). Generalized anxiety disorder. In Encyclopedia of Psychopharmacology (pp.
699-702). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
Spina, E., Pisani, F., & de Leon, J. (2016). Clinically significant pharmacokinetic drug
interactions of antiepileptic drugs with new antidepressants and new
antipsychotics. Pharmacological research, 106, 72-86.
Winner, J. G. "Paroxetine/venlafaxine." Reactions 1533 (2015): 350-10.
Aftab, A. (2015). Venlafaxine discontinuation syndrome: prevention and management. Current
Psychiatry, 14(11), 64.