What Is Psychosocial History?

Many factors affect how you feel, whether you get sick, how quickly you recover, your response to stress and other conditions. Many people, including doctors, social workers, psychologists, school counselors and insurance assessors, ask for information to help determine factors about your life.

Features

A psychosocial history covers many aspects of your life. Information gathered includes areas related to your psychological or mental health, your social history and many other factors such as health, employment, finances, education, religion, stress and support network, including friends and family, according to Loyola University.

Purpose

The ability to assess a situation depends on gathering all related information. The psychosocial history helps collect the information needed to provide a meaningful evaluation, according to the London Consult and Human Studies Center, Ltd. Evaluations uses include determining medical treatment, therapy, nursing home placement and adoption qualification.

Impact

The psychosocial history impacts treatment decisions for such areas as medical and mental health therapy. Aspects such as family history of depression, previous suicide attempts, medication or drug use, work or family stress and types of resources, including family or community help and finances, provide the evaluator with necessary information, according to Clarion University.

References

• Loyola University Chicago: Interview Feedback Form
• Clarion University: Interviewing Skills - Psychosocial History
• London Consult & Human Studies Center, Ltd: Psychosocial History

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• MayoClinic: Psychotherapy
• Centers for Disease Control: Expanding Our Understanding of the Psychosocial Work Environment
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Adolescent Growth and Development