anamnese

Getting to know each other plays an important role in the first contact between doctor and patient. Only those who know they are in good hands with their doctor are ready to accept the diagnosis and the proposed therapy. It is also important for the doctor to know the patient very well. The first conversation between doctor and patient will take place anamnese called.

What is the anamnesis?

The doctor doesn't just need to know about the current symptoms. There are different causes behind the same symptoms. The anamnesis gives him an overview of the health status, professional and personal living conditions and psychological condition of the patient. A careful anamnesis forms the starting point for the type and scope of subsequent therapy.

It helps the doctor make a clear diagnosis and treat the patient effectively. The term anamnesis comes from the Greek word "anámnēsis" and means "memory". It describes both the survey and the content of the medical history.In a detailed discussion with the patient, a kind of "health résumé" is drawn up in order to collect and document basic medical information about the patient.

In addition, the doctor has the opportunity to inspect his patient in advance (posture, face color, condition of hair and fingernails). Another goal of the anamnesis is to build a positive relationship of trust between doctor and patient. This forms a crucial basis for a later successful treatment.

Function, effect & goals

The anamnesis is taken prior to the medical examination. How it works and how long it lasts depends on the patient's symptoms and the specialty of the doctor. Its goal is to find an initial suspected diagnosis along with a medical history and physical examination.

He can confirm this with additional examinations and initiate effective therapy. Depending on where the information comes from, the doctor differentiates between personal and third-party anamnesis. The former is based on the patient's own answers. A third-party anamnesis comes from people in his direct environment.

This is necessary if the patient is unable to communicate adequately or if symptoms occur that he is not aware of himself, e.g. because they occur during sleep. The doctor greets his patient with the question: "What brings you to me?" and listens to their complaints. He asks specific questions that narrow down the diagnosis and cover the relevant areas of the history.

The current anamnesis includes questions aimed at current complaints: Where does it hurt and since when? How bad is the pain? When and how often do they occur? All answers that do not relate directly to it are the subject of the "general anamnesis". This first sheds light on the patient's previous medical history. It records illnesses you have suffered, chronic illnesses, infectious and childhood diseases, previous operations, injuries, allergies or disabilities.

The vegetative anamnesis is about body functions such as eating habits, bowel movements, breathing and sleep. The doctor asks, for example, whether the patient suffers from nausea, loss of appetite, dizziness or insomnia. When taking a medical history, the physician is interested in which preparations the patient is taking or has taken, for what reason and in what dosage. Unfortunately, patients often forget to mention over-the-counter drugs or contraceptives like the pill. But this information is important for the doctor.

These agents can affect the way other drugs work. The doctor can assess possible risk factors based on the luxury food history. Alcohol, drugs or cigarettes, as well as excessive coffee or sugar consumption, trigger or aggravate certain diseases. A trusting relationship between doctor and patient is particularly important when it comes to these "sensitive" issues. The somatic anamnesis summarizes questions relating to the patient's physical condition.

In contrast, the psychological anamnesis analyzes his mental state. Most people find these questions rather uncomfortable. However, those who feel that the doctor understands and cares for them are more willing to talk about stressful circumstances or feelings. Another chapter is the social history. It provides information about the patient's social environment, his professional and family situation. Certain professional factors cause occupational diseases such as asthma in bakers or bricklayers.

Likewise, high physical and emotional stress at work or family conflicts trigger health disorders. The family history examines genetic risks. She researches hereditary diseases and predispositions to certain diseases such as rheumatism, diabetes, cancer or mental disorders. These often occur more often in the same family. In addition, people within the family can become infected with infectious diseases. Therefore, the doctor asks about diseases of living relatives and the causes of death of deceased relatives.

Risks, side effects & dangers

All of these answers provide important information about the possible causes of the current symptoms. The success of the subsequent therapy depends crucially on what information the doctor receives during the anamnesis and physical examination. Therefore, he will carry out the survey differently depending on the symptoms, his area of ​​expertise and his experience.

90% of all diagnoses are based on the conclusive combination of medical history and physical examination. Provided that all information from the patient has reached the doctor correctly. Misunderstandings or unconsciously incorrect statements by the patient rarely lead to a misdiagnosis. A good doctor is able to filter out the most important information from the multitude of information, to interpret it correctly and to make an accurate diagnosis.