Psychiatric Interview Format Essay
Discussion: Interview Format
Despite what you may believe (or may have been told), there is no such thing as one “right” way to do an interview. In fact, there are numerous books written about the various ways of conducting the clinical interview. In actual clinical practice, you will find the format that “works” best for you and addresses your unique strengths and the needs of the client.Psychiatric Interview Format Essay
In this Discussion, you will practice finding the interview format that works for you and share those ideas with your colleagues for feedback.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Develop formats for initial interviews of mental health clients
To prepare for this Discussion:
- Review the Learning Resources.
- Develop an interview format you would use for an initial interview of a client.
By Day 3
Post:
- Attach the interview format document you would use for an initial interview of a client.
- Describe what interview format your preceptor uses for the initial interview of a client.Psychiatric Interview Format Essay
- Describe which element of your interview format is most helpful in your practice.
By Day 6
Respond to at least two of your colleagues by constructively critiquing their interview format and providing feedback.
Interview Formats I Would Use For An Initial Interview Of A Client
The formats used to conduct psychiatric interviews tend to differ from one clinical setting or clinician to another. Based on my clinical understanding and individual research, the interview format that I would use to conduct an interview contains three basic components namely: developing a rapport, asking for specific information such as the biophysical profile, chief complaint, and different histories and lastly the clinical impression and plan for treatment.
The introductory part is where the clinician takes time to establish a rapport with the client followed by a client’s presenting complaint. During this first part of the interview, the client should be left to tell his/her narrative without being interrupted. Alternatively as recommended by Silverman, et al. (2015), a clinician can also use open and close-ended questions to collect information from a client. In the second part, precise information that identifies the client such as the name, gender, date of birth, residence, occupation, ethnicity and informed consent are recorded. What follows is the chief complaint where open-ended questions should be asked by the clinician to document possible reasons that brought him to the clinic or for a referral. In the history of presenting illness, a detailed explanation of the chief complaint and why a client presented for evaluation is included (American Psychiatric Association, 2016). In the psychiatric review of symptoms, symptoms such as anxiety, panic attacks, depression, PTSD, OCD, sleep apnea or difficulties and impulsivity will be reviewed.Psychiatric Interview Format Essay