The handling of patient cues and expressed emotions in psychiatric interviews after a communication skills training

The unlearning of inappropriate responses seems less difficult than the implementation of appropriate new skills, with the exception of passive listening skills which increased in response to patients’ cues, statements and opinions, and empathic responses which increased after statements on problematic social issues. It was more difficult for the residents to improve active listening and signposting interventions required to give structure to the interview and to increase the quality of the information obtained. Future communication skill courses for psychiatrists should consider these issues in particular.