General psychiatry

Question 1

Define form

Answer 1

This is the structure or type of the phenomenon.
For example, it could be a fixed, false belief or it could be an unusual perceptual experience, described as being in a particular modality - visual, auditory, tactile - and having a particular relationship to reality - for example, in internal or external subjective space.
There are many other ways of describing the form of a phenomenon.

Question 2

Define content

Answer 2

This is usually what the patient is more concerned about - exactly where a voice is coming from may be less important to them than the fact the voice is telling them that their landlord is spying on them.
The content may have a meaning for the patient in the context of their past life.
Although it is usually the form that is most important to the diagnostic category, enquiring as to the content is often beneficial for building a therapeutic relationship.