Physical illness may first declare itself as a disturbance in thinking,
mood, or behavior. Recognition of physical disorders is enhanced by
informed use of the relevant procedures of physical examination. Objections
to physical examination are based on the assumptions that it is overly
timeconsuming, is psychotherapeutically contraindicated, or requires
unusual skill, but observation and minimally intrusive procedures can
provide much information that may exclude emergent organic conditions.
Different patients, illnesses, and settings require different levels of
examination; the author describes the appropriate procedure for psychotic
patients, substance abusers, patients taking psychotropic medications, and
other patients.Abstract Teaser