anamnese

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The anamnesis (Greek: memory) is the key to diagnosing diseases. In the anamnesis discussion, the doctor learns the patient's history and can gain important additional information and advice through specific questions. Read here what types of anamnesis there are, everything that goes with them, and how an anamnesis interview works.

What is an anamnesis?

The definition of anamnesis is “history of an illness”. With the help of open and specific questions, the doctor or medical specialist not only receives information about the current complaints and their development, but also about the medical history and living conditions of the patient. The first anamnesis is particularly detailed so that the doctor can get a comprehensive picture of his patient.

If the anamnesis discussion takes place with the patient himself, one speaks of a personal history. If other people, such as close relatives, are interviewed, this is called a third-party anamnesis. In addition, the anamnesis can be divided into different subgroups if they are based on a specific subject or topic.

anamnese	contents	purpose
Nursing history	Care needs of the patient Goals and measures of care Maintenance problems	Information especially for the nursing staff Review and evaluation of the need for care
Family history	Blood Relatives Diseases Causes of death and age at death of blood relatives	Conclusions about genetic diseases Indication of common family diseases (diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure)
Social history	job social environment Cultural backgrounds	Assessment of the patient's living situation Indications of occupational diseases Care outside the hospital
Vegetative history	Appetite and thirst Bowel movements and urination Weight changes Fever, infections and allergies Sleep quality in women: monthly cycle	Overview of the physical complaints
Pain history	Location, frequency, type and severity of pain Onset and changes in pain measures taken in case of pain pain-related disability in everyday life	Assessment of the patient's pain Evidence of diseases Pain management planning
Biographical anamnesis (psychosomatics and psychiatry)	Life story of the patient Personal experiences and conflicts Getting to know the patient	Background for planning a suitable therapy
Nutritional history	Eating habits Type and amount of food and drink Allergies and intolerances	Overview of the patient's nutritional situation Detecting shortages or oversupply
Medication history	Name and type of medication taken Frequency of intake Effect and side effects	Information about possible influences of the medication on the state of health Continuation of a successful therapy Improving the dosage or replacing the drug

When do you take an anamnesis?

A thorough anamnesis is at the beginning of every diagnosis. Before the actual examinations, the doctor gets a comprehensive picture of the patient, his complaints and how he perceives them. The information obtained from this leads to the possible causes (suspected diagnoses), which are now excluded or confirmed. Which forms of anamnesis are used in each case depends on the medical question and the patient's personal needs.

What do you do with an anamnesis?

Your doctor will greet you, present yourself in the event of an initial anamnesis and take you to an undisturbed room. However, you can always ask a relative or close friend to accompany you to the anamnesis interview.

To begin with, the doctor will ask you why you are contacting him. So that he can get a better picture, he also asks more precise questions about your current complaints. Typical anamnesis questions can include:

What brings you to me
Where and since when do you have the complaints?
Have the symptoms changed?
Has anything already been done?

So that your doctor gets to know you and your medical history better, he will also discuss previous illnesses, operations that have already taken place, risk factors and allergies, such as:

Have you ever been to the hospital?
Do you suffer from high blood pressure?
Do you have allergies?

The current state of health also provides important information in terms of the vegetative anamnesis.

Has your appetite or thirst changed?
Do you frequently sweat at night?
Have your stool or sleeping habits changed?
When did you have your last period?

A detailed anamnesis discussion also includes the medication and family and social anamnesis.

Do you take medicine?
Did your parents have any health problems?
Who will take care of you when you feel bad?

With the help of further questions, your doctor will narrow down the possible causes of your symptoms more and more. Certain topics such as your eating habits, physical activity or psychosocial stress factors can be explored more intensively.

An anamnesis interview can have a certain structure and a clear process, but it is adapted to your complaints and expanded if necessary. Only then do the physical examination and further diagnostic steps such as an X-ray image follow.

What are the risks of taking a medical history?

Taking anamnesis as such does not usually involve any risks and also serves to establish trusting contact between doctor and patient. The information you give to the doctor or healthcare professional is subject to confidentiality. In rare cases, misunderstandings can occur, which can be prevented by providing precise information or asking carefully.

What do you have to consider when taking an anamnesis?

The anamnesis is used to establish a diagnosis and should therefore be as detailed as possible. Also tell your doctor things that may not seem important at first in relation to your symptoms or illness. You don't need to be ashamed of anything and you can communicate openly with your doctor.

If you have planned the visit to the doctor in advance, prepare yourself for the questions to be expected. For example, by asking family members about similar symptoms, or by writing down the names, doses, and times of your medication. Any existing allergy certificates, vaccination books or - in the case of pregnant women - the maternity card - can also facilitate the anamnesis.

If anything is unclear to you or you feel uncomfortable during the medical history, tell them immediately. In the event of a language barrier, an interpreter can translate the anamnesis interview at any time.

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