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CMN 548 MODULE 1 STUDY
GUIDE SADOCK Chapter 7.1 - 7.2, 7.6 2026
1. Complete the following table which outlines the elements of the initial
psychiatric interview:
Component Purpose/Definition Key Points How this is helpful
Identifying data Name, age, sex, Specific questions for (Obtaining data) from
marital status, specific answers different sources:
religion, education, Family, hospitals,
address, phone clinics
number,
occupation, source
of referral
Source Document the Collateral sources list of current
and sources of of information are medical providers,
reliability information critical to forensic medications, and
contributing to the examinations. records from
evaluation with These sources help previous providers
to discover
commentary on the of mental health
important elements
quality and reliability care.
of the history the
of the sources. subject may not Sources of family
provide and serve to income and
externally verify difficulties in
information offered obtaining it
by the subject Referral source.
Chief Complaint Patient on words of What brought you to Record word
the reason for visit the hospital? What verbatim, Signs of
seems to be the diagnosis may
problem? appear, the
direction of
assessment
https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
Present Illness chronological Development of Previous
description of the symptoms from hospitalization,
evolution of the time of onset to treatments,
symptoms of the present; relation of symptoms, and
current episode. life events, differential
conflicts, stressors:
diagnosis
drugs; change from
symptoms, and
the previous level of
functioning differential
conflicts, stressors: diagnosis
drugs; change from
the previous level of
functioning
Past Psychiatric Last occurrence, Ascertain extent of
psychiatric diagnosis, duration, frequency illness, treatment,
history psychosomatic; of episode, medications,
medical, neurologic outcomes,
illnesses (e.g., hospitals, doctors.
Determine whether
craniocerebral
illness serves some
trauma,
additional purpose
convulsions) (secondary gain).
symptoms, &
treatment.
Substance can mimic or induce Drug(s) of choice, gathers basic
use/abuse psychiatric frequency, route. information about
syndromes, elevate CAGE (Have you age of onset,
risk of suicide and ever Cut down use, pattern of use over
violence, and have gotten Annoyed at time, current
important impact on people criticizing frequency, and level
safe medication your use, felt of use and
prescribing. Guilty, had an a.m. consequences of
Eye-opener?) use (physical,
mental, social, and
legal).
These facts help to
identify
problematic
current or past
patterns
https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
Past medical history both current and past Identify illness that accounting of major
major medical could mimic a medical disorders
disorders, surgeries, psychiatric both to develop a
hospitalizations and disorder, complete history
significant physical contribute to the and
trauma, such as context of the
presentation or
head injuries.
factor into
treatment planning.
Alternative
medicines,
allergies,
compliance issues,
side-effects.
Family history many psychiatric Psychiatric, can aid in diagnosis
illnesses have a medical, and and establishing
genetic genetic illness in expected
predisposition, if mother, father, prognosis.
not cause, a careful siblings; age of Medications
review of family parents and
effective in family
history is important occupations; if
members for similar
to the assessment deceased, date
and can aid in and cause; feelings disorders may be
diagnosis about each family effective in patients.
member,
and establishing finances.
expected prognosis.
Identifies family
members with
histories of known
or suspected
mental illness,
substance use
problems, and other
behavioral
problems
https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
Developmental Stages of the Developmentally Identifies major
and social history patient's life from appropriate role factors contributing
gestation to the functions such as to evolution of the
present with an eye academic progress, disorder.
toward work, peer and Histories of abuse
romantic
understanding the (emotional,
relationships, and
important physical, and
parenting capacity.
exposures, Gestational and sexual), neglect
relationships, and birth history, (emotional and
events that shaped developmental physical) and
the person's life milestones and specific traumatic
story. early childhood exposures are
development, important areas for
family of origin, specific inquiry.
cultural nature of the
identifications, patient’s current
educational, social environment
occupational, legal is defined including
and military
financial status,
histories are all
housing, and
areas to be
explored. current
relationships.
Review of systems Sleep, mood, Organized by asking Capture any current
hypomania/mania, sentinel questions physical signs and
anxiety, about the major symptoms not
psychosis, systems of the body). already identified in
obsessive- the HPI or past
compulsive, medical history
trauma,
behavioral,
Major systems of the
body: general, skin,
HEENT, neck,
breasts, resp,
cardio, gastro,
periph, vasc,
urinary, genital,
musculoskeletal,
psych,
neuro,
hematologic
https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
CMN 548 MODULE 1 STUDY
GUIDE SADOCK Chapter 7.1 - 7.2, 7.6 2026
1. Complete the following table which outlines the elements of the initial
psychiatric interview:
Component Purpose/Definition Key Points How this is helpful
Identifying data Name, age, sex, Specific questions for (Obtaining data) from
marital status, specific answers different sources:
religion, education, Family, hospitals,
address, phone clinics
number,
occupation, source
of referral
Source Document the Collateral sources list of current
and sources of of information are medical providers,
reliability information critical to forensic medications, and
contributing to the examinations. records from
evaluation with These sources help previous providers
to discover
commentary on the of mental health
important elements
quality and reliability care.
of the history the
of the sources. subject may not Sources of family
provide and serve to income and
externally verify difficulties in
information offered obtaining it
by the subject Referral source.
Chief Complaint Patient on words of What brought you to Record word
the reason for visit the hospital? What verbatim, Signs of
seems to be the diagnosis may
problem? appear, the
direction of
assessment
https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
Present Illness chronological Development of Previous
description of the symptoms from hospitalization,
evolution of the time of onset to treatments,
symptoms of the present; relation of symptoms, and
current episode. life events, differential
conflicts, stressors:
diagnosis
drugs; change from
symptoms, and
the previous level of
functioning differential
conflicts, stressors: diagnosis
drugs; change from
the previous level of
functioning
Past Psychiatric Last occurrence, Ascertain extent of
psychiatric diagnosis, duration, frequency illness, treatment,
history psychosomatic; of episode, medications,
medical, neurologic outcomes,
illnesses (e.g., hospitals, doctors.
Determine whether
craniocerebral
illness serves some
trauma,
additional purpose
convulsions) (secondary gain).
symptoms, &
treatment.
Substance can mimic or induce Drug(s) of choice, gathers basic
use/abuse psychiatric frequency, route. information about
syndromes, elevate CAGE (Have you age of onset,
risk of suicide and ever Cut down use, pattern of use over
violence, and have gotten Annoyed at time, current
important impact on people criticizing frequency, and level
safe medication your use, felt of use and
prescribing. Guilty, had an a.m. consequences of
Eye-opener?) use (physical,
mental, social, and
legal).
These facts help to
identify
problematic
current or past
patterns
https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
Past medical history both current and past Identify illness that accounting of major
major medical could mimic a medical disorders
disorders, surgeries, psychiatric both to develop a
hospitalizations and disorder, complete history
significant physical contribute to the and
trauma, such as context of the
presentation or
head injuries.
factor into
treatment planning.
Alternative
medicines,
allergies,
compliance issues,
side-effects.
Family history many psychiatric Psychiatric, can aid in diagnosis
illnesses have a medical, and and establishing
genetic genetic illness in expected
predisposition, if mother, father, prognosis.
not cause, a careful siblings; age of Medications
review of family parents and
effective in family
history is important occupations; if
members for similar
to the assessment deceased, date
and can aid in and cause; feelings disorders may be
diagnosis about each family effective in patients.
member,
and establishing finances.
expected prognosis.
Identifies family
members with
histories of known
or suspected
mental illness,
substance use
problems, and other
behavioral
problems
https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
Developmental Stages of the Developmentally Identifies major
and social history patient's life from appropriate role factors contributing
gestation to the functions such as to evolution of the
present with an eye academic progress, disorder.
toward work, peer and Histories of abuse
romantic
understanding the (emotional,
relationships, and
important physical, and
parenting capacity.
exposures, Gestational and sexual), neglect
relationships, and birth history, (emotional and
events that shaped developmental physical) and
the person's life milestones and specific traumatic
story. early childhood exposures are
development, important areas for
family of origin, specific inquiry.
cultural nature of the
identifications, patient’s current
educational, social environment
occupational, legal is defined including
and military
financial status,
histories are all
housing, and
areas to be
explored. current
relationships.
Review of systems Sleep, mood, Organized by asking Capture any current
hypomania/mania, sentinel questions physical signs and
anxiety, about the major symptoms not
psychosis, systems of the body). already identified in
obsessive- the HPI or past
compulsive, medical history
trauma,
behavioral,
Major systems of the
body: general, skin,
HEENT, neck,
breasts, resp,
cardio, gastro,
periph, vasc,
urinary, genital,
musculoskeletal,
psych,
neuro,
hematologic
https://www.stuvia.com/user/nursecare
