The First Interview, First Edition

bio revised for reprint, 9/02: James Morrison, MD, was educated at Reed College and obtained his medical and psychiatric training at Washington University in St. Louis. He is currently Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. He is the author or coauthor of such acclaimed professional resources as [i]DSM-IV Made Easy[/i], [i]When Psychological Problems Mask Medical Disorders[/i], and [i]Interviewing Children and Adolescents[/i], as well as [i]Straight Talk about Your Mental Health[/i], a guide for consumers considering mental health treatment. James Morrison, MD, was educated at Reed College and obtained his medical and psychiatric training at Washington University in St. Louis. He is currently Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Oregon Health Sciences University. He is the author of The First Interview, DSM-IV Made Easy, and When Psychological Problems Mask Medical Disorders, and coauthor (with Thomas F. Anders) of Interviewing Children and Adolescents.

Introduction: What Is Interviewing? Openings and Introductions. Chief Complaint and Free Speech. Developing Rapport. Managing the Early Patient Interview. History of the Present Illness. Getting the Facts about the Present Illness. Interviewing about Feelings. Personal and Social History. Sensitive Subjects. Control of the Later Interview. Mental Status Exam I: Behavioral Aspects. Mental Status Exam II: Cognitive Aspects. Signs and Symptoms in Areas of Clinical Interest. Closure. Interviewing Formats. Meeting Resistance. Special and Difficult Patients. Evaluation. Making Recommendations. Communicating Your Findings. Appendices: A. Summary of the Initial Interview. B. Description and Diagnostic Criteria for Selected Disorders. C. Sample Interview. D. Sample Written Report. E. Assessing Your Interview. F. Bibliography and Recommended Reading. Tables: 1. Outline of the Initial Interview. 2. Problems That Signal Areas of Clinical Interest. 3. Severity of Psychosocial Stressors Scale. 4. Negative and Positive Feelings. 5. Mini-Mental State Exam. Hierarchy of Conservative (Safe) Diagnoses. 7. Most Valid Diagnoses. 8. Outline of Mental Health Treatment Modalities. 9. Global Assessment of Functioning. Index.