The First Interview With A Psychiatrist

Originally published in 1955, the blurb read: 'Again in this book the author expounds his main thesis – perhaps the main thesis of all modern psychiatry – namely that our conscious pre-occupations, thoughts and behaviour are merely the products or "symptoms" of a process that is going on within us (basically a physiological process) of which we are totally unconscious. Although we are at pains to conceal from ourselves and others, and even vehemently to deny, the nature and the very existence of this fundamental unconscious process, it is nevertheless the determinant of all that is us, biologically, psychologically and sociologically. In the author’s own words: "It is the force behind all activity, all life. It exists unseen in the most apparently superficial human relationship, even in the interview – as this book will show. It alone can give us the meaning of what we do and feel." The theoretical section of the book deals with the interviewer and the unconscious forces which determine the effects and the therapeutic results of the interview. The longer practical section demonstrates, by abundant examples from clinical material and by complete documentaries of actual psychiatric interviews, that it is unconscious forces which determine the patient’s symptomatic picture, his behaviour, his attitude to life, and above all his emotional relationship to the psychiatrist – and indeed to everyone he meets in every personal contact. The elucidation of this process should be of the utmost interest and of the utmost practical value to each of us in our every contact, superficial or deep, with every human being whom we meet in the course of our lives. The book will appeal to a wide public. Although it demonstrates the deepest and most worthwhile aspect of modern psychology and psychiatry, it avoids technical jargon and is written in a cheerful, lively and lucid style, easily assimilable by everybody.' Today it can be read and enjoyed in its historical context. This book is a re-issue originally published in 1955. The language used is a reflection of its era and no offence is meant by the Publishers to any reader by this re-publication.

Revised and updated, this practical handbook is a succinct how-to guide to the psychiatric interview. In a conversational style with many clinical vignettes, Dr. Carlat outlines effective techniques for approaching threatening topics, improving patient recall, dealing with challenging patients, obtaining the psychiatric history, and interviewing for diagnosis and treatment. This edition features updated chapters on the major psychiatric disorders, new chapters on the malingering patient and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and new clinical vignettes. Easy-to-photocopy appendices include data forms, patient education handouts, and other frequently referenced information. Pocket cards that accompany the book provide a portable quick-reference to often needed facts.

The patient interview is at the heart of psychiatric practice. Listening and interviewing skills are the primary tools the psychiatrist uses to obtain the information needed to make an accurate diagnosis and then to plan appropriate treatment. The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the Accrediting Council on Graduate Medical Education identify interviewing skills as a core competency for psychiatric residents. The Psychiatric Interview: Evaluation and Diagnosis is a new and modern approach to this topic that fulfils the need for training in biopsychosocial assessment and diagnosis. It makes use of both classical and new knowledge of psychiatric diagnosis, assessment, treatment planning, and doctor–patient collaboration. Written by world leaders in education, the book is based on the acclaimed Psychiatry, Third Edition, by Tasman and Kay et al., with new chapters to address assessment in special populations and formulation. The psychiatric interview is conceptualized as integrating the patient’s experience with psychological, biological, and environmental components of the illness. This is an excellent new text for psychiatry residents at all stages of their training. It is also useful for medical students interested in psychiatry and for practicing psychiatrists who may wish to refresh their interviewing skills.

Focusing on the practical skills needed to establish rapport with patients and gain valuable clinical insights,The Psychiatric Interview, 5th Edition, offers a practical, concise approach to improving interviewing skills. Noted psychiatrist and award-winning mental health journalist Dr. Daniel J. Carlat uses a proven combination of mnemonics, specific techniques for approaching threatening topics, and phrasing examples to illustrate the nuances of the interviewing process, making this easy-to-digest text essential reading for trainees and practitioners in psychiatry, psychology, nursing, social work, and related fields.

Continuing to address the challenges in clinical interviewing, this book offers a wealth of clinical wisdom useful for trainees in all of the mental health professions, from medical students and psychiatric residents to psychologists, social workers, and nurses.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1. The initial interview: Summary of the literature 2. Interviewing 3. Recording 4. Interview I, With Discussion 2. 4. Interview II, With Discussion 5. 4. Interview III, With Discussion.

Eliciting useful information from young patients and their families is both a skill and an art, and Psychiatric Interview of Children and Adolescents, an exceptionally practical and comprehensive guide, enables mental health clinicians and trainees to first improve their interviewing skills and then organize and integrate the information derived from the interview to construct an effective treatment program. This book, building on the success of its predecessor, Clinical Manual of Psychiatric Interview of Children and Adolescents, offers updated and revised material, as well as expanded coverage that includes new findings and addresses emerging issues in the field. For example, a new chapter focusing on the psychiatric evaluation of preschoolers and very young children has been added, and the section on bullying in the chapter on abuse has been expanded to include cyber bullying. Clinical vignettes illustrate important concepts and techniques, providing a real-world component that readers will find both fascinating and instructive, and the key points at the end of each chapter and numerous quick-reference tables facilitate consolidation of learning. Easy to read, yet rigorous in its clinical focus, Psychiatric Interview of Children and Adolescents provides a solid foundation and expert guidance for clinicians evaluating and treating this critically important population.