Summary

Here's a succinct, hands-on guide to interviewing and assessing people with psychiatric disorders! Written by practicing psychiatrists, it clearly explains how to gather clinical data while empowering patients and gaining their trust. Consistently organized chapters and step-by-step guidance make it easy for readers to conduct successful psychiatric interviews, make definitive diagnoses, and establish therapeutic alliances with their patients. Focuses on the practical skills readers need most - "what to ask" and "how to ask it". Provides diagnostic criteria from the DSM-IV-TR when relevant. Explains how to apply ratings scales for both diagnosis and symptom severity to clinical practice. Discusses psychiatric interviews in the full range of settings: clinic, inpatient unit, emergency room, and home. Helps readers interview patients of diverse cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds. Integrates the knowledge and experience of a respected team of senior academic subspecialty clinicians. Presents a wealth of reader-friendly features, including clinical vignettes, chapter overviews, key-point boxes, and an informal writing style. Includes selected references and suggested readings in each chapter.