Introduction
A clinical interview is the structured conversation through which a doctor gathers information about the patient's complaints, history and circumstances, and at the same time builds the relationship on which diagnosis and treatment depend. It is the main tool of the clinical psychologist and the physician, and in medicine it is used before, during and after every examination. This note covers the purpose and structure of the interview, the basic techniques, the main barriers, and how the information is used.
Purpose of the clinical interview
- Information gathering: the present complaint, its onset and course, past illnesses, medication, family and social history.
- Relationship building: trust and rapport, without which patients under-report symptoms or leave treatment early.
- Assessment and intervention: the interview itself can reduce anxiety, give information and begin behaviour change.
Structure of the interview
Most textbooks describe three phases. Each has a different task, and the doctor moves between them as the patient's needs change.
- Opening: introduce yourself, explain the purpose, ask for the patient's own account of why they came, and let them speak without interruption for the first minute or two.
- Body: explore the complaint in detail, then the wider history; move from open to more specific questions.
- Closing: summarise what was heard, check the patient agrees, ask whether anything was missed, and agree the next steps.