Patient interview

How to interview a patient with low mood

Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.

MD / DOPANursing (NCLEX)
Practice it in VR with Blocky

Depression is common and treatable. Asking about suicide directly is safe and necessary.

Step by step

  1. Introduce yourself and build trust

    Private place, open questions, time to answer. [1]

  2. Core symptoms

    Low mood and loss of interest for at least two weeks. [2]

  3. Other symptoms

    Sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, guilt or worthlessness, slowed or restless. [3]

  4. Suicide risk

    Ask directly about thoughts of death or suicide, plan, means and intent. If at risk, do not leave the patient alone and get help. [2]

  5. Causes and triggers

    Life events, substance use, medical illness, medicines, past episodes, mania. [3]

  6. Support

    Family, friends, work, what helped before. [2]

  7. Summarize and plan

    Explain treatment and follow-up. [1]

Common errors

Practice it in VMS

In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.

VMS cases that train this skill

10 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

Sources

  1. AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
  2. NCSBN 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan
  3. NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint
  4. NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations

Facts and steps follow NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations; NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint; AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.