Taking the patient's history is traditionally the first step in virtually every clinical encounter. A thorough neurologic history allows the clinician to define the patient's problem and, along with the result of physical examination, assists in formulating an etiologic and/or pathologic diagnosis in most cases.[1, 2]
Solid knowledge of the basic principles of the various disease processes is essential for obtaining a good history. As Goethe stated, "The eyes see what the mind knows." To this end, the reader is referred to the literature about the natural history of diseases. The purpose of this article is to highlight the process of the examination rather than to provide details about the clinical and pathologic features of specific diseases.
The history of the presenting illness or chief complaint should include the following information:[3]