Expression of Patients' Requests in the Initial Interview

Abstract

The expressions of requests of 120 patients who came to the Walk-In Psychiatric Clinic of a general hospital were examined to determine whether patients verbalized specific requests during the intake interview. As 63% of the patients verbalized a specific request, 37% emitted and 27% elicited ones, we concluded that many patients could have been more specific but felt restrained by their role. To evaluate the effect of the patients' attitudes and interviewers' behavior on the expression of requests, in a two-by-two factorial design, we varied the number of patients taking the Patient Request Form and/or being probed for a request during a standardized pre-intake interview. These two procedures did not affect significantly the number expressing requests: experimental groups 73% versus control group 63%. Completing the form elicited more requests. The interviewer variables of number and wording of probes for requests significantly facilitated expression of requests. In the discussion we attempted to evaluate factors influencing patient's resistance to the expression of requests and to place the meaning of requests in the context of more effective clinical functioning, particularly a negotiated approach to the treatment of patients.