HISTORY TAKING Flashcards
GYNAE HISTORY
what are the key symptoms to ask about?
- abdominal pain
- pelvic pain
- post-coital bleeding
- intermenstrual bleeding
- abnormally heavy bleeding
- abnormally painful bleeding
- post-menopausal bleeding
- abnormal vaginal discharge
- dyspareunia (duration, location, nature)
- vulval skin changes + itching
- systemic sx (fatigue, fever, weight loss)
GYNAE HISTORY
what should you cover?
- presenting complaint
- ICE
- menstrual history
- contraception
- reproductive plans
- past gynae history
- past medical history
- obstetric history
- drug history
- family history
- social history
GYNAE HISTORY
what should you include in menstrual history?
- duration of periods
- frequency (how often, are they regular)
- volume (how heavy)
- any pain
- date of last menstrual period
- age at menarche
- age at menopause (if relevant)
GYNAE HISTORY
what should you include in past gynae history?
- gynae conditions
- gynae surgery or procedures
- cervical screening history
GYNAE HISTORY
what should you include in obstetric history?
- gravidity and parity
- current pregnancy (gestation, symptoms, complications, recent scans)
- previous pregnancies
GYNAE HISTORY
what should you specifically ask about for family history?
- history of ovarian, endometrial or breast cancer
- bleeding disorders
- blood clots
NEUROLOGICAL HISTORY
what are the key symptoms to ask about?
- headache
- seizures
- loss of consciousness
- muscle symptoms (weakness, twitching, spasms, stiffness)
- sensory symptoms (numbness, tingling, sensory loss)
- speech disturbance (dysarthria and aphasia)
- vision changes
- hearing loss
- loss of sense of smell
- dizziness/vertigo
- altered mental state
NEUROLOGICAL HISTORY
what are the components of a neuro history?
- presenting complaint
- ICE
- past medical history
- neurodevelopmental history
- allergies
- drug history
- family history
- social history
NEUROLOGICAL HISTORY
what should you include in neurodevelopmental history?
- pregnancy + birth history ( any complications)
- did they reach developmental milestones on time?
- any significant illnesses in childhood
- any challenges in school or social interactions
- any concerns about behaviour and emotion
MEMORY IMPAIRMENT HISTORY
what should you ask for presenting complaint?
- onset (sudden or gradual, any triggers)
- progression (sudden or gradual, any tasks now difficult, steady or fluctuates)
- triggers (recent infections, changes to medications or increased stress, problems going to toilet or pain, thirsty or dehydrated)
ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS
- depression/low mood
- hallucinations
- behavioural changes
- changes to sleeping patterns
- difficulties speaking, recognising objects, planning activities + recognising people/places
- changes to bowel habits (constipation or incontinence)
- issues passing urine (burning, stinging or increased frequency)
CARDIOVASCULAR HISTORY
what are the key symptoms?
- chest pain
- SOB
- palpitations
- syncope
- oedema
- intermittent claudication
- systemic sx (fatigue, fever, weight loss or weight gain)
HEADACHE HISTORY
what are the key symptoms to ask about?
- vomiting
- visual disturbance
- neck stiffness
- fever
- dizziness
- rash
- weight loss
- motor or sensory deficits
- triggers
- onset
RESPIRATORY HISTORY
what are the key respiratory symptoms?
- SOB
- cough
- coughing up blood
- wheeze
- chest pain
- systemic symptoms (fatigue, fever, weight loss)
DEPRESSION HISTORY
what are the components of a depression history?
- introduction
- screening for depression
- biological symptoms
- cognitive symptoms
- assess suicide risk
- screening for other psych diagnoses
- past psychiatric history
- past medical history
- drug history
- family history
- social history
- insight
DEPRESSION HISTORY
how would you initially screen for depression?
during the past month have you:
- been bothered by feeling low, depressed or hopeless?
- had little interest or pleasure doing things?
DEPRESSION HISTORY
what are the biological and cognitive symptoms to ask about?
BIOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS
- sleep cycle disruption
- low mood
- appetite changes
- reduced libido
- fatigue
COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS
- reduced concentration
- negative perception of current/future situation
- negative perception of self
DEPRESSION HISTORY
how would you assess suicide risk?
“When people feel down and depressed, they can feel that life is no longer worth living. Have you ever felt like this”
- any thoughts about taking own life
- how often do you think about taking own life
- any thoughts about how
- any plans
- any attempts
- any self-harming thoughts
- any self-harm
- anything stopping from ending life
- drinking alcohol or recreational drug use
- felt able to see friends + socialise
DEPRESSION HISTORY
how would you screen for other psychiatric diagnoses?
MANIA (BIPOLAR)
- periods of euphoria, particularly high, energetic or euphoric
SCHIZOPHRENIA
- auditory hallucinations
- feel people discussing you negatively
- fear people may be out to get you
- thought insertion
- thought withdrawal
- thought broadcasting
- tactile hallucinations
HEAD INJURY HISTORY
what are the components of a head injury history?
- introduction
- presenting complaint
- before head injury
- during head injury
- after head injury
- now
- ICE
- past medical history
- drug history
- family history
- social history
HEAD INJURY HISTORY
what do you want to know about before the head injury?
- when the injury happened
- activities before injury
- any precipitating causes
- previous head injuries
HEAD INJURY HISTORY
what do you want to know about during the head injury?
- mechanism of injury
- loss of consciousness
- any witnesses
HEAD INJURY HISTORY
what do you want to know about after the head injury?
- any vomiting
- any memory loss
- did they need help
- any other injuries
- any neck pain
PAEDIATRIC HISTORY
what are the components?
- presenting complaint
- feeding (breastfed/formula, eating + drinking)
- toileting (urine output, wet nappies, bowels + poo appearance)
- past medical history
- surgical history
- prenatal history (obstetric problems, medications during pregnancy)
- birth history (any concerns/problems)
- neonatal history (any NICU admissions?)
- development (meeting milestones, any concerns?)
- growth history (growing along centile)
- immunisation history
- drug history
- allergies
- family history (siblings, parents)
- social services involvement
- social history (school, friends, diet)
ALCOHOL HISTORY
what are the components?
- screen using CAGE or AUDIT
- alcohol intake (pattern, how much)
- impact of alcohol (signs of dependence, what happens when trying to stop)
- effect on day to day life
- current mood
- suicide risk
- past medical history
- drug history + allergies
- social history (smoking, drug use, gambling)