How to Do a Psychiatric Intake | The Art and Science of the First Hour

In this episode we break down how to run a focused, humane, and evidence informed psychiatric intake. We start with setting the frame and role clarity, then show how to use a free narrative to map life course symptoms before moving into targeted history, DSM-5 criteria, and the mental status exam. Along the way we tackle common requests for ADHD or autism evaluations, the risks of checklist thinking, and when to pivot to structured tools. We close with communicating impressions, treatment planning, and next steps.
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