Читать книгу Abnormal Psychology - William J. Ray - Страница 157

Most mental health professionals use a clinical interview to initially gather information concerning the status of an individual with whom they are working. Since the interview is also an interaction between two people, it is a chance for the professional to establish rapport, which will lead to more complete information. The information gained from this interview includes not only the individual’s present symptoms but also the social and cultural context in which these symptoms appear. This context includes the individual’s social support, family relationships, and connections within his or her community. It is also important to assess the individual’s attitudes, emotions, and experiences of others in his or her world. The clinical interview further offers the opportunity to assess the current ability of the individual to care for him- or herself.

psychological assessment: the process of gathering information about a person so that you can make a clinical decision about that person’s symptoms

Overall, the major areas of consideration in a clinical interview are (1) the current areas of distress and their history; (2) any past mental health problems; (3) social history including social support; (4) the manner in which cultural factors may influence the current condition; and (5) any way in which previous family, medical, or psychological factors may influence the current situation.