The principles are mostly generic, but their implementation can be particularly challenging in psychiatry. They may guide further empirical research on effective communication in psychiatry and be utilised using different personal skills of clinicians.

Background: The Dutch psychiatrist Rümke introduced the notion that patients with schizophrenia could be recognised intuitively by an experienced psychiatrist, naming the process as the ‘praecox feeling’. This feeling may reflect aspects of the non-verbal behaviour of patients as shown in a medical consultation. The aim of this study was to test whether aspects of the initial non-verbal behaviour of patients with schizophrenia and depression in medical consultations differ and are associated with symptom levels in each group. Sampling and Method: The first 2 min of videotaped outpatient consultations with 78 patients (39 each with schizophrenia and depression) were analysed by researchers who were masked to the diagnosis and symptom levels of the patients. Non-verbal behaviour was assessed using a modified Ethological Coding System for Interviews. Symptom levels were rated by independent researchers on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Beck Depression Inventory. Results: The 2 diagnostic groups showed significant differences on 1 out of 6 aspects of non-verbal communication, with patients with schizophrenia exhibiting more ‘flight’ behaviour, i.e. more looking down or away, crouching and freezing. Within the group of patients with schizophrenia, more ‘flight’ and less ‘assertion’ were associated with higher symptom levels. Conclusion: Initial ‘flight’ behaviour of patients in medical consultations may be specific for schizophrenia and associated with the symptoms of that illness. Such behaviour might indicate an avoidance of potentially adverse communication, and future research should investigate whether it can also be identified in everyday social interactions other than medical consultations.

Lavelle M, Dimic S, Wildgrube C, McCabe R, Priebe S. Non-verbal communication in meetings of psychiatrists and patients with schizophrenia.Objective: Recent evidence found that patients with schizophrenia display non-verbal behaviour designed to avoid social engagement during the opening moments of their meetings with psychiatrists. This study aimed to replicate, and build on, this finding, assessing the nonverbal behaviour of patients and psychiatrists during meetings, exploring changes over time and its association with patients' symptoms and the quality of the therapeutic relationship. Method: 40-videotaped routine out-patient consultations, involving patients with schizophrenia, were analysed. Non-verbal behaviour of patients and psychiatrists was assessed during three fixed, 2-min intervals using a modified Ethological Coding System for Interviews. Symptoms, satisfaction with communication and the quality of the therapeutic relationship were also measured. Results: Over time, patients' non-verbal behaviour remained stable, whilst psychiatrists' flight behaviour decreased. Patients formed two groups based on their non-verbal profiles, one group (n = 25) displaying pro-social behaviour, inviting interaction and a second (n = 15) displaying flight behaviour, avoiding interaction. Psychiatrists interacting with pro-social patients displayed more pro-social behaviours (P < 0.001). Patients' pro-social profile was associated reduced symptom severity (P < 0.05), greater satisfaction with communication (P < 0.001) and positive therapeutic relationships (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients' non-verbal behaviour during routine psychiatric consultations remains unchanged, and is linked to both their psychiatrist's non-verbal behaviour and the quality of the therapeutic relationship. • Patients with schizophrenia can be classified into two groups based on their non-verbal behaviour; one group displaying non-verbal behaviour designed to avoid social interaction, and a second displaying non-verbal behaviour inviting social interaction.• Patients' non-verbal behaviour is associated both with the behaviour of their psychiatrist and the quality of the therapeutic relationship.