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Full-Text Articles in Family Medicine
The History Of The Present Illness As Treatment: Who's Listening, And Why Does It Matter?, Herbert M. Adler, Md, Phd
The History Of The Present Illness As Treatment: Who's Listening, And Why Does It Matter?, Herbert M. Adler, Md, Phd
Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers
BACKGROUND: The history of the present illness (HPI) is examined as a narrative communication that has the potential to be therapeutic.
METHODS: The general principles that influence the therapeutic potential of the HPI are induced from participant observation of personal experience and natural observations of conventional social interaction. These principles are corroborated by evidence from cross-cultural healing practices, clinical experience, and experimental psychology.
RESULTS: To facilitate a therapeutic HPI, the clinician should convey a sense of safety, sensitivity, affective competence, and cognitive competence. Furthermore, the effective clinician joins the patient in coprocessing the illness experience.
CONCLUSIONS: The (HPI) is not …