Interviews in Clinical Psychology

• What is a clinical interview?

  A dialogue between a psychologist and patient
• What is the primary purpose of a clinical interview?

  To diagnose and plan treatment for patients
• How long does a typical clinical interview last?

  Around 50 minutes
• What types of personal data do clinicians gather during interviews?

  Gender and age
• What is a mental status exam used for in clinical interviews?

  To assess behaviors or movements of the patient
• Which manuals do clinicians use for diagnosis in clinical psychology?

  DSM and ICD
• How do clinical interviews contribute to treatment planning?

  They help achieve an accurate diagnosis
• What is a weakness of clinical interviews related to self-report data?

  Clients may not be completely honest
• What type of questions are used in structured interviews?

  Standardized, pre-planned questions
• What type of data do structured interviews primarily generate?

  Quantitative data using closed questions
• How long does a structured interview typically take?

  Approximately 45-90 minutes
• What is a strength of structured interviews in clinical psychology?

  They are less time-consuming
• What is a weakness of structured interviews related to their procedure?

  They use a predetermined set of questions
• Why might structured interviews lack detail?

  They primarily collect quantitative data
• What is a semi-structured interview?

  It incorporates structured and unstructured aspects
• How do clinicians use semi-structured interviews?

  To accurately diagnose a disorder with flexibility
• What is the relationships anecdote paradigm?

  A semi-structured interview approach for narratives
• What is a strength of semi-structured interviews?

  They gather both qualitative and quantitative data
• What is a weakness of semi-structured interviews related to interviewer bias?

  Interviewers may use leading questions
• What type of data do unstructured interviews primarily collect?

  Mainly qualitative data
• How do unstructured interviews differ from structured ones?

  They involve no set schedule or prepared questions
• What is a strength of unstructured interviews regarding data collection?

  They allow for detailed, specific information
• What is a weakness of unstructured interviews related to reliability?

  They lack a standardized procedure
• What is case formulation in clinical psychology?

  • Gathers information relevant to treatment planning
  • Considers how factors fit together to produce symptoms
  • Uses psychological theories for appropriate treatment selection
• What are the applications of clinical interviews in psychology?

  • Quick and easy diagnosis with structured interviews
  • Helps decide correct treatment plans
  • Aims to improve a patient's quality of life