The psychiatric interview differs from the general clinical interview in a number of respects. As Sullivan pointed out, the psychiatrist is considered an expert in the field of interpersonal relations, and accordingly the patient expects to find more than a sympathetic listener. Any person seeking psychological help justifiably expects expert handling in the interview.

The Psychiatric Interview

Interviews in nonpsychiatric branches of medicine generally emphasize medical history taking, the purpose of which is to obtain facts that facilitate the establishment of a correct diagnosis and the institution of appropriate treatment. That interview is organized around the present illness, the past history, the family history, and the review of systems.

The Patient's History

The patient's fear of looking beneath his defenses is not the only basis for concealment in the interview. Every person is concerned with the impression he makes on others. If the patient suspects that some of less admirable aspects of his personality are involved in his illness, he may be unwilling to disclose such material until he is certain that he will not lose the interviewer's respect as he exposes himself.

The Patient's Fear

Much has changed in the critical interval since the last edition of The Psychiatric Interview in Clinical Practice was published. This new, third edition provides an up-to-date examination of the psychiatric interview that reflects changes introduced in DSM-5, while continuing to recognize that describing symptoms and establishing a diagnosis should command only a portion of the clinician's attention, and that a patient's personal history must be elicited and character structure addressed in the clinical engagement. Significant advances have been made in biological psychiatry, and research in genetics, cognitive neuroscience, psychopharmacology, brain imaging, and the neurosciences in general continues apace, informing the culture of psychiatry and providing growing insight into the etiology of mental illnesses. However, the book reflects the authors' belief that virtually all major psychiatric disorders are complex amalgams of genetic disposition and environmental influences. In this context, the psychiatric interview is a vitally important dialogue, and effective strategies are modeled through the use of clinical vignettes taken from the authors' experience. Topics and features of this new edition include: * An updating of diagnostic considerations to reflect the publication of DSM-5.* A chapter on interviewing the patient with dissociative identity disorder (DID), which is now recognized as an entity distinct from other psychopathological conditions and rooted in childhood trauma. The frequency of DID in the ambulatory setting has been repeatedly demonstrated and speaks to the need to accurately diagnose and treat this often-debilitating disorder.* An entirely updated chapter on interviewing the traumatized patient.* A section on interviewing the patient of different background. The book emphasizes that the subjective experience of being &quot;different&quot; is universal and that psychiatry is enriched by recognizing and exploring that experience, validating its existence, and attempting to understand how it influences the patient's life.* Continued emphasis on and inclusion of relevant case vignettes drawn from the authors' clinical experiences.* Structural consistency across chapters, with sections on psychopathology and psychodynamics, differential diagnosis, management of the interview, transference and countertransference, and so forth, which reinforces skills acquisition and makes the text easy to use. By creating a text that is aligned with DSM-5 while continuing to stress the importance of eliciting the patient's subjective experience and achieving a therapeutic dialogue, the authors of The Psychiatric Interview in Clinical Practice have done a great service to the profession and provided much-needed guidance to mental health clinicians and trainees.

Anastaska 's Key Ideas from The Psychiatric Interview in Clinical Practice, Third Edition
by Roger A. MacKinnon, M.D., Robert Michels, M.D., Peter J. Buckley, M.D.

The Psychiatric Interview

The Patient's History

The Patient's Fear

Discover Key Ideas from Books on Similar Topics

Anastaska 's Key Ideas from The Psychiatric Interview in Clinical Practice, Third Editionby Roger A. MacKinnon, M.D., Robert Michels, M.D., Peter J. Buckley, M.D.

The Psychiatric Interview

The Patient's History

The Patient's Fear

Discover Key Ideas from Books on Similar Topics

Anastaska 's Key Ideas from The Psychiatric Interview in Clinical Practice, Third Edition
by Roger A. MacKinnon, M.D., Robert Michels, M.D., Peter J. Buckley, M.D.