SOCRATES
acronym/ˈsɒk.rə.tiːz/
Clinical Skills
Definition
1.The framework for taking a pain history.
Expansion
- SSite — where is the pain?
- OOnset — sudden or gradual; what were they doing?
- CCharacter — sharp, dull, burning, crushing?
- RRadiation — does it travel anywhere?
- AAssociated symptoms — nausea, sweating, breathlessness
- TTime course — duration, pattern, progression
- EExacerbating / relieving — what makes it better or worse?
- SSeverity — on a scale of 0–10
Notes
A complete pain history in eight questions — the bread and butter of any clerking. The answers often point straight at the diagnosis: crushing central chest pain radiating to the jaw with sweating suggests an ACS; sudden "thunderclap" headache suggests subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Pair it with SOCRATES → differential: let the character and radiation drive your list rather than the other way round.
Origin
Named for the philosopher who taught by questioning — here, the eight you ask of any pain.
See also
- I GET SMASHED — The causes of acute pancreatitis.