History taking in psychological diagnostics

Within the psychological diagnosis , the taking of anamnesis refers to inquiries about the medical or medical history of the examined person.

Definition

Etymology: Greek “anamnesis” = memory

Anamnesis is the history of an incident, in particular an illness or disorder.

Since the psychological diagnosis is not only about the clinical area, it is recommended, for reasons of precision, instead of “(psychological) anamnesis ” to speak better of “ collecting the information typically related to the given facts ”.

Of interest are biological, psychosocial and psychological opportunities or risks.

Types of anamnesis

somatic anamnesis (includes biological development, including that of the family)
biographical anamnesis
socio-economic history

subjects

The collection of information typically related to the given situation can be based on different theoretical orientations (e.g. forms of psychotherapy).

Boerner lists the following relevant areas:

Formal framework of development and living conditions
Relationship with parents
Relationship to siblings
Developmental abnormalities and particularly significant events
Kindergarten time
Social contact throughout development
School time, training and job
Interests, preferences and hobbies
Self-assessment regarding typical behavior and attitudes
Future prospects and expectations, self concept

techniques

According to Kubinger, the way anamnesis is carried out differs according to:

1. the degree of structure (standardization):

a. In the fully structured interview, both the wording and the order of the questions are binding.

b. The semi-structured interview is prepared by a discussion guide.

c. In the case of the non-standardized interview, only a thematic framework is given, within which the conversation is conducted openly.

2. Written versus oral questioning

3. Personal or third-party medical history

4. Positioning within the diagnostic process.

regulate

Creating an atmosphere of openness and trust
Striving for a partnership with the clients
Sensitization to one's own powers of observation and assessment
Demand for self-criticism ability, experience and questioning
Observance of "catalogs of vice" (monologizing, dogmatizing, distancing, involving, evaluating, labeling, trivializing, etc.)
short and understandable explanations
simple, clear and precise German
Avoidance of foreign words and technical terms
Avoidance of leading questions

Others

Since the data obtained in the anamnesis survey are part of the diagnostic process and contribute significantly to the diagnosis, the anamnesis must also be evaluated with regard to the test quality criteria .

Common causes of failure to collect the information typically related to the given issue :

Instead of forming hypotheses and systematically checking them, treatment is based on speculation
Routine "operational blindness"
time pressure

Various published anamnesis questionnaires support the querying of the facts of interest, e.g. B.

“Anamnestic parent questionnaire” by Deegener
Existential analysis of Wurst, Leiss, Polacek, Herle & Tutsch
Systemically oriented survey inventory by Kubinger

Individual evidence

^ KD Kubinger: Psychological diagnosis: theory and practice of psychological diagnosis. 2. revised and exp. Edition. Hogrefe, Göttingen 2009, ISBN 978-3-8017-2254-8 , p. 11.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e K. D. Kubinger: Anamnesis. In KD Kubinger, RS Jäger (ed.): Key terms in psychological diagnostics. Beltz, Weinheim 2003, ISBN 3-621-27472-3 , pp. 13-19.
↑ ^a ^b H. Häcker, KH Stapf (ed.): Dorsch Psychological Dictionary. 15th edition. Huber, Bern 2009, ISBN 978-3-456-84684-2 .
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ K. D. Kubinger, G. Deegener: Psychological anamnesis in children and adolescents . Hogrefe, Göttingen 2009, ISBN 978-3-8017-1278-5 .
↑ ^a ^b K. D. Kubinger: Psychological diagnosis: theory and practice of psychological diagnosis. 2. revised and exp. Edition. Hogrefe, Göttingen 2009, ISBN 978-3-8017-2254-8 .
↑ K. Boerner: The psychological report. A practical guide. 7th ext. Edition. Beltz, Weinheim / Basel 2004, ISBN 3-407-22163-0 , p. 19.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d K. Westhoff, ML Kluck: Writing and assessing psychological reports. 3. Edition. Springer, Berlin 1998, ISBN 3-540-64372-9 .

[1] KD Kubinger: Psychological diagnosis: theory and practice of psychological diagnosis. 2. revised and exp. Edition. Hogrefe, Göttingen 2009, ISBN 978-3-8017-2254-8 , p. 11.

[Kubinger_2003_a-2] K. D. Kubinger: Anamnesis. In KD Kubinger, RS Jäger (ed.): Key terms in psychological diagnostics. Beltz, Weinheim 2003, ISBN 3-621-27472-3 , pp. 13-19.

[Häcker&Stapf_2009_a-3] H. Häcker, KH Stapf (ed.): Dorsch Psychological Dictionary. 15th edition. Huber, Bern 2009, ISBN 978-3-456-84684-2 .

[Kubinger&Deegener_2001_a-4] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ K. D. Kubinger, G. Deegener: Psychological anamnesis in children and adolescents . Hogrefe, Göttingen 2009, ISBN 978-3-8017-1278-5 .

[Kubinger_2009_a-5] K. D. Kubinger: Psychological diagnosis: theory and practice of psychological diagnosis. 2. revised and exp. Edition. Hogrefe, Göttingen 2009, ISBN 978-3-8017-2254-8 .

[6] K. Boerner: The psychological report. A practical guide. 7th ext. Edition. Beltz, Weinheim / Basel 2004, ISBN 3-407-22163-0 , p. 19.

[Westhoff&Kluck_1998_a-7] K. Westhoff, ML Kluck: Writing and assessing psychological reports. 3. Edition. Springer, Berlin 1998, ISBN 3-540-64372-9 .