A comprehensive and inspiring introduction to the timeless art of history-taking, The Patient History presents the fundamental principles that guide this process and enable health care professionals to establish the differential diagnosis for a given symptom. Thoroughly updated, this resource discusses the entire patient by organ system, suggesting questions and analyzing potential responses in a decision-tree format. Each chapter includes characteristic physical signs and laboratory results. Features new material on alcoholism, sexual history taking to include female sexual dysfunction and assessing the risk for AIDS and impotence.

Features:

• A patient-centered approach to the medical history by emphasizing symptoms rather than diseases
• Principles of evidence-based medicine to the clinical history
• The history-taking process through the discussion of 60 common clinical symptoms
• Diagnostic approach algorithms to summarize important concepts
• Tips for effective interviewing

Lawrence M. Tierney, Jr., MD
Professor of Medicine
University of California
San Francisco
Associate Chief of Medical Service
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
San Francisco, California

Mark C. Henderson, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Vice Chair for Education
Department of Internal Medicine
University of California, Davis School of Medicine
Sacramento, California