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Turner & Raphael,
Box 3

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Eliciting other problems associated with stress
  • Start with open-ended questions: e.g., "Can you tell me what you see as problems?"
  • Mention your familiarity with common problems: e.g., "I often find that people who are under the sort of stress you describe notice themselves getting very tense or irritable. Does that ever happen to you?"
  • Follow-up with clarifying questions, such as "How have things been in the family recently? Has it ever happened that you just lost control?"
It is crucial that patients understand that obtaining such a history allows you to understand the nature and extent of their problems, with a view to developing a long-term management plan.

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