The First Interview, Fourth Edition: Fourth Edition - Hardcover

"An absolute 'must read' for any clinician at any level of experience. This clearly written, highly practical, step-by-step guide to conducting the first interview is filled with wisdom. Morrison is sensitive to and respectful of the patient while recognizing the clinician's need to get as much information as possible. The Appendices are invaluable. I cannot think of another book that comes close to this masterpiece. Thank you, Dr. Morrison, for providing this essential guide."--Robert L. Leahy, PhD, Director, American Institute for Cognitive Therapy; Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College

"With pressure to improve quality, availability, and the economic value of mental health care, an effective, efficient start to the therapeutic process is more important than ever. The First Interview, Fourth Edition, addresses the reality that whatever the therapist's orientation, a successful therapeutic alliance depends on the first encounter. This gives the book universal appeal and will benefit novice and seasoned therapists alike. Science and personal experience are woven into a seamless work that reads like common sense but is based on a substantial body of evidence. In an easy-to-read, conversational tone, Morrison conveys empathic interviewing techniques that can win patients' trust and allow them to share the most intimate life details."--Gary J. Kennedy, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center

"As a clinician educator who teaches interviewing, I have been searching for accessible reading material that incorporates DSM-5 and is appropriate for medical students, psychiatry residents, and multidisciplinary mental health care providers. My search is over! This book integrates DSM-5 and the latest research on interviewing without compromising the art of clinical care. Rather than rigidly applying diagnostic categories or theoretical frameworks, Morrison helps clinicians become attuned to the nuances of the interview in a way that will make patients feel heard and understood. I know that my patients and my trainees' future patients will receive more thorough, compassionate care as a result of the abundant clinical insights in this book."--Alana Iglewicz, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego

"Morrison has written one of the most comprehensive texts on the principles, techniques, and practice of initial interviewing. This book is indispensable for students first learning to work with clients, and is a valuable reference for experienced practitioners wishing to enhance their interviewing skills. Morrison presents sound and practical methods for establishing a warm and empathic therapeutic relationship, which in turn will help students and practitioners productively work with sensitive material."--Roy Jerome, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

"A well-organized, comprehensive text on the initial interview, applicable to screenings, initial treatment sessions, or more formal evaluations. Graduate clinical training programs often do not provide finely grained, detailed instruction on conducting and reporting on the initial session. Field instructors and supervisors teach these skills, but instruction is often inconsistent and lacking in overall structure. Chapters regarding the mental status exam, providing client feedback, and report writing are especially helpful for students and beginning clinicians."--Eliot Goldman, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center

This trusted practitioner resource and course text is grounded in James Morrison's experience with more than 15,000 mental health patients. Morrison provides a complete framework for interviewing adult patients about their current symptoms, personal and family history, mental status, behavioral risks, and other relevant issues. He offers guidance for selecting the best strategy for any clinical situation, building rapport, overcoming common challenges, and communicating findings. Appendices include a detailed semistructured interview and a self-assessment tool for interviewers, both with permission to photocopy. Purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

New to This Edition
*Revised throughout for DSM-5.
*Updated resources and suggested readings.

See also Morrison's DSM-5® Made Easy, which explains DSM-5 diagnoses in clear language, illustrated with vivid case vignettes; Diagnosis Made Easier, Second Edition, which offers principles and decision trees for integrating diagnostic information from multiple sources; and The Mental Health Clinician's Workbook, which uses in-depth cases and carefully constructed exercises to build the reader's diagnostic skills.