Is this a usual question for a psychiatrist to ask a patient

[Takemebackto]

Ds was asked when being assessed by a psychiatrist what he thought of his future. He said he’s confused as he thought it was about his present mental state. I assume it’s to assess how how views his recovery etc. Has any else got anymore thoughts on it?

Yup. People who have plans for the future are less of a risk. So it's assessing protective factors.

I wasn't asked that but I wouldn't find it strange if I was.

Not strange
A good way to assess state of mind I'd have thought (not an expert obv!)
If someone said I can't see a future then you know they are in a bad way, for example

Totally normal.

Very common, in my experience.

Total normal - one of the standard questions on the depression questionnaire is whether you feel hopeless or not and is very much geared to understanding your feelings towards the future.

Yes, standard. Hopelessness is one of the biggest indicators of suicide risk.

As others have said, totally normal.

It’s something I ask my patients as part of getting to know them as a person as well as risk assessment. If I can have a normal conversation with someone about their interests etc, they often relax a bit then I can move onto the not so easy stuff.

Evidence of being future oriented is a standard question asked as part of a mood assessment.