Begin your interview with a general question that allows freedom of response. A general open question such as this will clue you as to how you need to proceed. If you ask direct questions too son, you risk not getting the information you are looking for. Avoid why questions, which may trigger defensiveness. Listen actively and guide the patient into telling you more about important areas.
Attentive silence can facilitate a patient to say more.
Recognize and respond to the patient s feelings. Confrontation may be helpful when a patient story is inconsistent. By pointing out to patients something about their own words or observed behavioral clues to anger, anxiety, or depression, you can bring these feelings out. Interpretation makes an inference, rather than the observation made with confrontation. For example, You are asking a lot of questions about you Valium.