Table of Contents:
  • The initial interview: a preview
  • Logistic preparations: what to do before the interview
  • The therapeutic alliance: what it is, why it's important, and how to establish it
  • Asking questions I: how to approach threatening topics
  • Asking questions II: tricks for improving patient recall
  • Asking questions III: how to change topics with style
  • Techniques for the reluctant patient
  • Techniques for the overly talkative patient
  • Techniques for the malingering patient
  • Techniques for the adolescent patient
  • Techniques for other challenging situations
  • Practical psychodynamics in the diagnostic interview
  • Obtaining the history of present illness
  • Obtaining the psychiatric history
  • Screening for general medical conditions
  • Family psychiatric history
  • Obtaining the social and developmental history
  • How to memorize the DSM-IV-TR criteria
  • Interviewing for diagnosis: the art of hypothesis testing
  • Mental status examination
  • Assessing suicidal and homicidal ideation
  • Assessing mood disorders I: depressive disorders
  • Assessing mood disorders II: bipolar disorder
  • Assessing anxiety disorders
  • Assessing alcohol dependence and drug abuse
  • Assessing psychotic disorders
  • Assessing dementia and delirium
  • Assessing eating disorders and somatization disorder
  • Assessing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • Assessing personality disorders
  • How to educate your patient
  • Negotiating a treatment plan
  • Writing up the results of the interview.