How to interview a patient with low mood
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In Making Synapses you practice it on the patient.
Depression is common and treatable. Asking about suicide directly is safe and necessary.
Step by step
Introduce yourself and build trust
Private place, open questions, time to answer. [1]
Core symptoms
Low mood and loss of interest for at least two weeks. [2]
Other symptoms
Sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, guilt or worthlessness, slowed or restless. [3]
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]
Causes and triggers
Life events, substance use, medical illness, medicines, past episodes, mania. [3]
Support
Family, friends, work, what helped before. [2]
Summarize and plan
Explain treatment and follow-up. [1]
Common errors
- Avoiding the suicide question.
- Missing past mania.
- Not asking about substance use.
Practice it in Making Synapses
In Making Synapses 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.
Making Synapses cases that train this skill
- Electroconvulsive therapy, consent and recovery
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Suicide attempt by overdose
- NSTEMI
- Bipolar disorder
- Major depressive disorder
10 Making Synapses cases train this skill: open the case library
Sources
- AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
- NCSBN 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan
- NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint
- 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). Making Synapses is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.