Interpersonal Skills in Interviewing Patients for Mental Health Diagnosis

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