Jump to content

  • Set Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
Set Your LocationSet Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Book Appointment
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
    • Book Appointment
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Research
  • Aging and Longevity
Content

How do primary care physicians respond when patients cry during routine ambulatory visits?

Description

Stults CD, Elston Lafata J, Diamond L, MacLean L, Stone AL, Wunderlich T, Frankel RM, Tai-Seale M., J Comm Healthcare. 7(1):17-24. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/1753807614Y.0000000044, 2014 Mar 01

Investigators

Cheryl Stults, Ph.D., Assistant Scientist

Abstract

Although crying is universally recognized as a sign of distress in adults, its role in assessing and diagnosing depression in medical settings has received little attention. We sought to describe the interactional circumstances surrounding patients who cry during routine periodic health examinations and the subsequent actions of their physicians.

Qualitative content analysis of audio-recorded visits and administrative claims data for adult primary care patients for one year before and after an index visit were used to explore the context of patients’ crying and how physicians responded.

Most patients began to cry while discussing emotional pain over the loss or illness of a loved one. While physicians generally responded with immediate expressions of empathy, the intensity of their responses varied. Some patients received minimal assessment regarding their mental health, whereas others were assessed more extensively.

Although most physicians did express empathy in response to patients’ tears, some did not systematically assess patients’ mental health status and overall functioning. Physicians may want to view crying as a sign of distress and more fully evaluate whether it fits into a more complex clinical presentation of depression.

Associated Topics

  • Aging and Longevity
  • Health Services
  • Mental Health

Related Publications

Dabigatran versus warfarin for atrial fibrillation in real-world clinical practice: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Romanelli RJ, Nolting L, Dolginsky M, Kym E, Orrico KB.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. pii: CIRCOUTCOMES.115.002369. [Epub ahead of print]
2016 Jan 26

Using citizen scientists to gather, analyze, and disseminate information about neighborhood features that affect active living.

Winter SJ, Goldman Rosas L, Padilla Romero P, Sheats JL, Buman MP, Baker C, King AC.
J Immigr Minor Health. [Epub ahead of print]
2015 Jul 17

How home hospice care facilitates patient and family engagement.

Dillon EC.
Death Stud. 1-10. [Epub ahead of print]
2016 Nov 04

Using electronic health record data to measure care quality for individuals with multiple chronic medical conditions.

Bayliss EA, McQuillan DB, Ellis JL, Maciejewski ML, Zeng C, Barton MB, Boyd CM, Fortin M, Ling SM, Tai-Seale M, Ralston JD, Ritchie CS, Zulman DM.
J Am Geriatr Soc. doi: 10.1111/jgs.14248. [Epub ahead of print]
2016 Jul 07

Development of a patient decision aid for the management of superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in adults with a limited life expectancy.

Junn A, Shukla NR, Morrison L, Halley M, Chren MM, Walter LC, Frosch DL, Matlock D, Torres JS, Linos E.
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 20(1):81. doi: 10.1186/s12911-020-1081-8.
2020 Apr 29
The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

  • Contact Us
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Book Appointment
  • Request Medical Records
  • Donate Now
Sign in to My Health Online

Billing and Insurance

  • Pay a Bill
  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Estimate Costs
  • Medicare Advantage

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Community Benefit
  • Annual Report
  • News and Media

Our Team

  • For Employees
  • For Medical Professionals
  • For Vendors
  • For Volunteers

Careers

  • Jobs at Sutter
  • Physician Jobs
  • Graduate Medical Education

Copyright © 2023 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

  • ADA Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • LinkedIn Opens new window
  • YouTube Opens new window
  • Facebook Opens new window
  • Twitter Opens new window
  • Instagram Opens new window
  • Glassdoor Opens new window

Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences