Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Aggression.
These may include a physical examination or other medical tests.
Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing
your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information
you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
- How long has the aggression been present?
Why: Acute or chronic.
- Previous episodes of aggression?
- Medical history
Why: e.g. low glucose levels in diabetes can cause aggression.
- Past history of traumatic events
Why: suggesting post-traumatic stress disorder as cause.
- Alcohol history
Why: suggesting alcohol abuse as a possible cause.
- Hard street drug history
Why: suggesting substance abuse as a possible cause.
- Forensic history
Why: suggesting anti-social personality disorder or drug abuse as cause.
- Can you tell me a little bit about how you have been feeling lately?
Why: Aggression can be a sign of some mood and thought disorders, such as depression or Antisocial Personality Disorder.
- Can you try to tell me how you are feeling right now?
Why: In spite of how you may have been feeling lately, it is most important for you to communicate to the best of your ability exactly how you are feeling right now. This can give your health professional some insight into what you are experiencing.
- Do you drink alcohol, or use any other substances?
Why: Substance dependence, abuse and withdrawal can result in aggression.
- Can you tell me about what's been happening in your life lately?
Why: Sometimes other things happening in your life may have a dramatic effect on your mood and make you more prone to aggression.
- Have you ever thought or attempted to harm yourself?
Why: It is important for your Health Professional to know if you have attempted self harm or suicide as it is a strong risk factor for you to further harm yourself, or even commit suicide.
- Have you ever thought or tried to hurt anyone else?
Why: Your Health Professional needs to assess if you are a risk to those around you, and if so to what degree.
- Have you ever been diagnosed with any psychiatric disorders or conditions?
Why: As part of assessing your current physical and mental health your health professional needs to know about your past. This may aid them to know how to best treat you, and what management plans to make with you.
Questions your doctor may ask about related symptoms:
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse
your condition. These may include:
- Depressive symptoms
Why: suggesting Depression, post-natal depression.
- Psychotic symptoms
Why: e.g. hallucinations, delusions, disordered thought.
- Memory problems
Why: suggesting possible Alzheimer's.
- Delirium symptoms
» Next page: Types of Aggression
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