Interviewing in consultation-liaison psychiatry

Abstract

After being paged by the CL service receptionist that there was a consultation request for evaluation of suicidality and psychosis for Melinda Smith in 3W Room 302, the psychiatric consultant rushed into the four-bed room. Around the third bed, the curtains were drawn, and there seemed to be a procedure being performed. Another patient was snoring. Another patient seemed to be in the middle of her lunch but looked at the consultant curiously. The fourth patient with a nasogastric tube was surrounded by several visitors. The consultant looked around the room, and asked in a loud voice, “Which one of you is Melinda Smith?” One of the visitors of the fourth patient pointed to the woman with the nasogastric tube. The consultant approached the bed, and said, “I am doctor Jones, the psychiatrist. Your doctor tells me that you have hallucinations and delusions and want to kill yourself. Is that correct?”.