ABSTRACT
Similar to history taking in other specialties, some basic information about the patient is required: = name; = age/date of birth (D.O.B.); = sex; = current occupation; = marital status;
= route of referral (e.g. general practice, emergency department (ED)) and reason for referral;
= setting of the psychiatric interview (e.g. outpatient clinic, ward); = details of any informants present and their relationship to the patient.
