Understanding Clinical Interviews in Psychology
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ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding Clinical Interviews in Psychology
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Introduction
Clinical Interview..............................................................................3
Type and objective of the clinical interview................................................................................4
Regarding the formal aspect..............................................................................................4
Classification regarding objectives..............................................................................5
Evaluator competencies and the quality of the relationship........................................................5
Conclusion..........................................................................................................................7
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Introduction
The clinical interview is not a unique technique. In this paper, I will define the
clinical interview, examine its elements and differentiate the types it can be
classified. And some aspects of the essential competencies of the interviewer for the
conducting a clinical interview
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Clinical Interview
In psychology, the clinical interview is a set of investigative techniques, of time
delimited, directed by a trained interviewer, who uses knowledge
psychological, in a professional relationship, with the objective of describing and evaluating
personal, relational or systemic aspects (individual, couple, family, social network), in
a process aimed at making recommendations, referrals or proposing some type
of intervention in favor of the interviewed individuals.
The investigation allows for achieving the primary objectives of the interview, which are
describe and evaluate, which presupposes the gathering of information, from which
it becomes possible to relate events and experiences, make inferences, establish
conclusions and making decisions.
These domains include, for example, developmental psychology, the
psychopathology, psychodynamics, systemic theories. Specific aspects in each
one of these areas can be prioritized such as, for example, development
psychosexual, signs and symptoms of psychopathology, identity conflicts, relationship
conjugal, etc.
At other times, the evaluation process is complex and requires a differentiated set of
interview techniques and evaluation instruments and procedures, such as,
example, in addition to the interview, the projective or cognitive instruments, the techniques of
observation, etc. The importance of emphasizing the interview as part of a process is that
to be able to glimpse its role and its context alongside a large quantity
possible procedures in psychology. The clinical interview is a procedure
powerful and, by its characteristics, is the only one capable of adapting to the diversity of
relevant clinical situations and to make explicit particularities that escape others
procedures, mainly the standardized ones.
The interview is the only technique capable of testing the limits of apparent contradictions and of
making explicit characteristics indicated by standardized instruments, giving them
clinical validity (Tavares, 1998), hence the need to highlight the interview
clinic in the field of psychological assessment.
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The interviewer must pay attention to the processes in the other person, and their intervention must
to guide the subject to deepen their contact with their own experience. In summary,
we concluded that all types of interviews have some form of structuring in
to the extent that the interviewer's activity directs the interview towards
achieve your goals.
Type and purpose of the clinical interview
Classifying the types of interview is not an easy task, as it requires consideration of
classifying axes and the systematic examination of the main types of techniques of
interviews. This task goes beyond the objectives of this chapter, but we will indicate
Here are some directions. We will consider two axes: according to the form.
(structure) and according to the objective.
As for the formal aspect
Regarding the formal aspect, interviews can be divided into: structured,
semi-structured and free-structured.
Structured interviews are of little clinical use. The application of this type of
interview is more frequent in research, especially in situations where the
clinical skill is not needed or possible. Its use rarely considers the
needs or demands of the evaluated subject - usually, it is intended for the
collection of information defined by the needs of a project. An example
the typical one is the epidemiological interview, which, like a census, requires the interviewer
cover a large number of issues in a short time.
Structured interviews prioritize objectivity – the questions are almost always
closed or delimited by previously determined options and seek answers
specific to specific issues. When open responses are possible, usually
are associated with operationalized classificatory schemes that facilitate translation
from information into categories of the objective type.
Semi-structured interviews are so named because the interviewer has
clarity of your objectives, what type of information is needed to achieve them, of
how this information should be obtained (suggested or standardized questions), when
or in what sequence, under what conditions it should be investigated (relevance) and how it should be
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to be considered (use of evaluation criteria). In addition to establishing a
procedure that ensures the acquisition of necessary information in a standardized manner,
it increases the reliability or trustworthiness of the obtained information and enables the creation
of a permanent record and of a database useful for research, for the establishment
to therapeutic efficacy and the planning of health actions.
Free structured interview is the least structured type and is only distinguished from the simple one.
conversation because it aims to collect data, where the interviewer does
ask a few direct questions and let the interviewee speak freely as they refer
the assimilated guidelines.
Classification according to objectives
An effort to classify the interviews according to their objectives would be a task
much more complex. This complexity arises from the interdependence between approach and
objectives. As an example, let's imagine two hypothetical interviewers, one from
psychodynamic approach and another, behavioral. When interviewing a subject to
define a therapeutic intervention strategy, although they apparently have the
same objective, they would act in completely different ways. The first
I would explore early development and unconscious processes, defenses, and conflicts.
predominant, while the second would seek to determine the problem situations and
examine the background that maintains behavior in the present. Each one
you would define specific objectives for your procedures.
Evaluator competencies and the quality of the relationship
The various interview techniques have in common the goal of evaluating in order to make
some type of recommendation, whether diagnostic or therapeutic. The interview, as a point
initial contact is crucial for the development of a helping relationship.
acceptance of the recommendations or the continuation of treatment depends on some
important characteristics of this first contact, which are influenced by a
set of competencies of the interviewer. The difficulty of acceptance of the
recommendations or the withdrawal from starting a therapeutic process, when it occurs, if
gives us the first contacts.
An interview, in practice, before it can be considered a technique, must be seen
as a social contact between two or more people. The success of the interview
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it will therefore depend on the general qualities of good social contact, on which it
they supported the specific clinical techniques.
To properly conclude an interview, the interviewer must be able to:
1. To be present, in the sense of being entirely available for the other in that
moment, and be able to listen to it without the interference of personal issues.
2. Help the patient feel comfortable and develop a working alliance;
3. Facilitate the expression of the reasons that led the person to be referred or to
seek help;
4. Seek clarifications for vague or incomplete statements;
5. Kindly confront evasions and contradictions;
6. Tolerate the anxiety related to the topics evoked in the interview;
7. Recognize defenses and ways of structuring the patient, especially when
they act directly in the relationship with the interviewer (transference);
8. Understand your countertransference processes;
9. Take the initiative in moments of impasse;
10. Master the technique you use.
To be present and able to listen to the patient, the interviewer must be able to isolate
other concerns and, momentarily, focus your attention on the patient. To do
Yes, it is necessary that your personal needs are being sufficiently met.
and that he can recognize the moments when it seems that this is not happening. This
it implies that the present anxieties are not strong enough to interfere with
process.
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Conclusion
I concluded that the clinical interview and its types, where I talked about the competencies.
people. The clinical interview is an approach or path where the interviewer seeks
understanding the patient. Where the success of the interview depends heavily on general qualities
of a good social contact between the interviewer and the patient.
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Bibliography
CUNHA. Jurema Alcides. Psychodiagnosis-V. 5. Ed.– Electronic data.
Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2007.
Common questions
Powered by AIIn a clinical interview, the interviewer must balance objectivity with empathy. Objectivity ensures accurate information gathering and assessment, while empathy fosters a supportive environment for the patient to express themselves. This balance enables the interviewer to remain unbiased while still attending to the emotional needs of the patient, crucial for effective evaluation and treatment planning.
Clinical interviews can be classified mainly into structured, semi-structured, and free-structured types. Structured interviews, often used in research, focus on objectivity with predetermined questions and are less clinically useful due to their rigidity. Semi-structured interviews offer flexibility while maintaining a standardized approach, ensuring reliability and creating a useful research database. Free-structured interviews prioritize data collection through open conversation, allowing interviewees to speak freely. Their effectiveness in clinical settings is influenced by their flexibility and relevance to the objectives.
Social skills are critical as the interview begins as a social interaction. Success depends on qualities like being present, listening, and engaging in a respectful dialogue, which encourages a productive relationship and facilitates the therapeutic process. These skills help in building trust and openness, essential for successful interviews.
Different clinical interview types address reliability and validity uniquely. Structured interviews offer high reliability through standardized questions, but may lack validity due to rigidity. Semi-structured interviews maintain balance by ensuring standardized data collection while allowing flexibility to probe into valid areas of concern. Free-structured interviews, although flexible and open, tend to lack reliability but can yield valid insights into the patient's underlying issues.
In clinical interviews, developmental psychology might prioritize psychosexual development and identity conflicts, focusing on how past developmental stages impact current behavior. Conversely, a psychodynamic approach might emphasize unconscious processes, defenses, and predominant conflicts. The interviewer's theoretical orientation determines which principles are prioritized, affecting the strategies used to uncover underlying psychological issues and inform therapeutic interventions.
The objective of a clinical interview shapes its approach, reflecting the underlying psychological model. For instance, a psychodynamic interviewer might focus on early development and unconscious processes, whereas a behavioral interviewer examines present behavior and stimuli. This affects the determination of intervention strategies, signaling diverse methodological implications in psychological practice.
The clinical interview is unique in its adaptability to various clinical situations and its ability to explore apparent contradictions. Unlike standardized methods, it provides clinical validity by relating events and experiences to make inferences and decisions. It can delve into unique aspects like psychosexual development and psychopathology, which standardized tools might miss, making it an indispensable part of comprehensive psychological assessment.
Free-structured interviews, while flexible, face challenges such as potential unreliability and difficulty in maintaining focus. They may lead to less structured data, complicating analysis. Addressing these challenges entails a skilled interviewer to guide the conversation subtly towards relevant topics without compromising the natural flow, ensuring high-quality data for assessment and intervention planning.
Clinical interviews integrate with other assessment techniques, like projective or cognitive tests, by adding depth to the evaluation process. While tests provide quantitative data, interviews offer qualitative insights into the patient's experiences and behaviors. This combination affords a comprehensive understanding that enriches the psychological assessment, facilitates accurate diagnosis, and informs intervention strategies.
The interviewer's competencies significantly influence the outcome by establishing a comfortable setting that fosters a working alliance with the patient. Key skills include active listening, facilitating expression, seeking clarifications, and understanding both the patient's defenses and the interviewer's countertransference. These competencies ensure that the interview is not only a technical procedure but a social contact, crucial for the acceptance of recommendations and continuity of treatment.