Introduction Psychiatry is the ultimate clinical speciality. At one level, it is about one unique organ—the brain. Unlike other organs, our brains can argue, change jobs, vote and perform many other things. However, the practice of psychiatry is concerned with…
Introduction ‘In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.’ Abraham Lincoln At the turn of the twentieth century, there were 65000 people in the UK aged 85 or older. By…
Introduction The skill of clinical examination is the true art of medicine and nowhere more so than in the examination of children. Children are not small adults and, as such, the approach to their examination differs. The examiner needs to…
Introduction All medical history taking, examination, investigation and management plans are intensely personal matters for patients. In obstetric and gynaecological practice, intimate details must be elicited; this requires tact, discretion, consideration and the maintenance of proper confidentiality. Women may have…
Introduction The cornerstone of a good relationship between doctor and patient is trust. In primary care, this relationship (often in the context of caring for the whole family) may be built up over several years, but in hospital practice or…
Introduction The term ‘Differential Diagnosis’ used to be very widely used by doctors, but it now seems to be used less, and is less well understood. It might be better termed as ‘Differential Diagnoses’, because the process of preparing it…
Introduction The separation of the history from the examination is artificial because the latter starts with the first greeting and ends when the patient departs. Some physical findings may prompt further questioning; do not be concerned that your history taking…
Introduction If asked why they entered medicine, most doctors would say that they wish to relieve human suffering and disease. To achieve this aim for every patient, it is essential to understand what has gone wrong with normal human physiology…