What Are Clinical Interviews?

Clinical interviews are in-depth conversations conducted by mental health professionals to assess an individual's mental health. These interviews are a critical component of the psychological assessment process, allowing clinicians to gather detailed information about a person's emotional state, thought processes, behaviour patterns, and overall psychological functioning.

The primary goal of a clinical interview is to understand the individual's current concerns, diagnose any existing mental health conditions, and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Key Features of Clinical Interviews:

• Individualised Approach: Each interview is tailored to the individual's specific needs and concerns, making it a highly personalized assessment tool.
• Holistic Perspective: Clinical interviews aim to capture the complexity of an individual's experience, considering not just symptoms but also life circumstances, strengths, and challenges.
• Dynamic Interaction: Unlike standardized testing, clinical interviews involve a two-way conversation where the clinician can ask follow-up questions based on the individual's responses, allowing for a deeper exploration of issues.
• Flexibility: Clinicians can adjust the interview's direction and focus as needed, exploring different areas of concern as they emerge during the conversation.

What to Expect

During a clinical interview, individuals can expect a conversation that focuses on their psychological well-being, life history, current symptoms, and any concerns they might have. The setting is typically private and confidential, designed to make the individual feel comfortable and safe to share personal information.

Typical Order of a Clinical Interview

Clinical interviews generally follow a structured flow to ensure a thorough understanding of the individual's mental health. While the specific order can vary based on the clinician's style and the individual's needs, a typical clinical interview might include the following stages:

1. Introduction: The clinician introduces themselves, explains the purpose of the interview, and outlines confidentiality terms to establish a safe and trusting environment.
2. Presenting Concerns: The individual is invited to share their current symptoms, concerns, or reasons for seeking help, providing an initial overview of their needs.
3. Psychological History: Discussion of the individual's psychological history, including any previous mental health diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes.
4. Life History: Exploration of significant life events, relationships, and experiences that have shaped the individual's psychological development and current state.
5. Current Functioning: Assessment of the individual's current emotional, cognitive, and social functioning, including strengths and coping mechanisms.
6. Goal Setting: Identification of goals for therapy or assessment, helping to guide the direction of future treatment.
7. Conclusion: The clinician summarizes key points from the interview, discusses next steps, and addresses any immediate concerns or questions from the individual.

This structure ensures that the interview covers all critical aspects of the individual's mental health, providing a solid foundation for diagnosis and treatment planning.

Who Conducts Clinical Interviews?

Clinical interviews are conducted by qualified mental health professionals, including:

• Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
• Clinical Social Workers
• Mental Health Counsellors

These professionals have the training to understand complex psychological conditions and to conduct interviews in a way that is both respectful and insightful.

Setting of Clinical Interviews

Clinical interviews usually take place in settings where privacy and confidentiality can be maintained, such as:

• Private practices
• Hospitals
• Mental health clinics
• Schools or universities (for educational psychologists)

The environment is set up to be welcoming and non-threatening to encourage open communication.

What You'll Talk About

While the specific questions asked during a clinical interview can vary widely depending on the individual's situation and the clinician's approach, common topics include:

• Current symptoms and their impact on daily life
• Psychological history, including previous diagnoses or treatments
• Family history of mental health conditions
• Substance use or abuse
• Physical health and any medications being taken
• Coping mechanisms and support systems

Types of Clinical Interviews

There are generally two types of clinical interviews:

• Structured Interviews: These follow a specific set of questions designed to diagnose based on standardised criteria, such as the DSM-5 or ICD-10.
• Unstructured Interviews: These are more open-ended, allowing the clinician to explore the individual's mental health more broadly, based on the conversation's direction.

The Role of Clinical Interviews in Diagnosis and Treatment

Clinical interviews are pivotal in the diagnostic process, often serving as the first step in identifying mental health disorders. They provide a rich, qualitative understanding of the individual, which cannot be captured through standardized tests alone. The insights gained from these interviews are crucial for tailoring treatment plans to the individual's specific needs.