Clinical Psychology

6 The Assessment Interview

6 The Assessment Interview

FOCUS QUESTIONS

1. What are major issues to consider when
   conducting an assessment interview?


2. What are the most common types of assess-
   ment interviews? Briefly describe each type.


3. What are the similarities and differences
   between structured and unstructured
   interviews?
   4. What types of reliability and validity are
   relevant to an evaluation of a structured
   interview?
   5. Why is the validity of a structured diagnostic
   interview difficult to assess?

CHAPTER OUTLINE

Assessment in Clinical Psychology
Definition and Purpose
The Referral
The Case of Billy G.
What Influences How the Clinician Addresses
the Referral Question?

The Interview
General Characteristics of Interviews
BOX6-1:Computer Interviewing: Are Clinicians
Necessary?
Interviewing Essentials and Techniques
Rapport
Communication
The Patient’s Frame of Reference
The Clinician’s Frame of Reference

Varieties of Interviews
The Intake-Admission Interview

The Mental Status Examination Interview

BOX6-2:Sample Intake Report

The Case-History Interview

The Crisis Interview

BOX6-3:Clinical Psychologist Perspective:

Thomas A. Widiger, Ph.D.

The Diagnostic Interview

Reliability and Validity of Interviews

Reliability

Validity

Suggestions for Improving Reliability

and Validity

The Art and Science of Interviewing

CHAPTER SUMMARY

KEY TERMS

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