A medical interview should allow you to obtain the most accurate possible account of the patient's illness, and the events in the patient's life that are relevant to it, within a reasonably short time. If time is not to be wasted, you must create conditions from the outset so that the patient ®nds it easy to talk to you. To start with, you must look like a member of the medical staff. On the general wards this is quite easy since you will be wearing a white coat, but in settings like the department of psychiatry or in general practice it is important that you dress in such a way that patients who may be much older than you nevertheless see you as someone from whom help may be sought.