tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post114657677352665472..comments2024-03-18T03:28:36.581-04:00Comments on Shrink Rap: Perception vs. RealityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1146630488534919872006-05-03T00:28:00.000-04:002006-05-03T00:28:00.000-04:00Interesting comments. I mostly do consultations t...Interesting comments. I mostly do consultations to med-surg patients in general hospitals. I've noticed that my approach to a new patient varies depending on the nature of the consult. Almost universally, though, I do several things that are disarming:<BR/><BR/>-shake the patient's hand<BR/><BR/>-introduce myself by name (I tend to save the 'I'm a psychiatrist' piece until there is a little engagement, otherwise some will dismiss me outright..."I'm not crazy"...but if they ask, I tell them...I do say why I'm there, so I don't see it as misleading)<BR/><BR/>-sit down at eye level. This is MOST important. In the ER, if they are sitting on the floor, I sit on the floor.<BR/><BR/>If there is dementia or delirium, I will approach with a definite smile on my face. If you are confused, you look for environmental cues to orient yourself. If a stranger is coming at you with hand outstretched and a smile, most folks immediately go into a disarmed mode. (Of course, if they are paranoid, they wonder what I'm up to, smiling like that.)<BR/><BR/>I note that my verbal pace picks up with manic patients (they get impatient with speech that is "too slow"), and it slows down with depressed patients.<BR/><BR/>It would be an interesting observational study to assess how one approaches different patient types.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com