The Psychiatric Interview (Norton Library

by Harry Stack Sullivan

The Psychiatric Interview is a unique book. It deals with the basic issues in psychiatric assessment-which, without guidance, may be distressingly difficult-and reduces them to easily digestible facts. This is a book for all those working in the field of psychiatric disorder. It will be invaluable to medical students and doctors training in general practice, emergency medicine and psychiatry. At a time when the assessment of psychiatric patients is the responsibility of a range of clinicians, The Psychiatric Interview will also be of assistance to clinical psychologists, social workers and psychiatric nurses. It will also have a place as a reference book for police and security officers.

Genres: Psychology, Psychiatry, Nonfiction

232 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1970

Reviews

[Dia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, if only I could have Harry Stack Sullivan on my shoulder, whispering in my ear as I interview clients..."Don't be a schmuck" would be the essence of his whispered wisdom. Of course just reading this book won't cause one to instantly become an interviewer who's not a schmuck. It takes a lot of practice -- and careful observation and correction of what one is practicing. It takes basic maturity and probably some innate gifts, as well. In any case, whatever it takes, Sullivan shows that it is certainly possible to become so artful in one's interviews that the interview itself becomes therapeutic. He shows this with graceful humor and humility. Along the way, he makes interesting, unusual diagnostic comments, some of which one might first think are dated, but on further consideration turn out simply to be countercultural and probably true.

Sullivan has much to say about anxiety, that of interviewer as well as interviewee, convincing me that anxiety is central to this and probably every other interpersonal act. In the mental health interview, the trick is to allow the interviewee to protect herself enough that she will feel safe enough to speak openly, but not so much that she is out of touch with her actual truths and needs. Or as Sullivan says, the interviewer is "not so tender to the interviewee that he prevents his doing what he is there for, but he does not make it any more distressing than he can help..." Sullivan gives many tips and even a few scripts (again possibly, but probably not, dated) for achieving this balance. Now if only I could have him perched on my shoulder, reminding me of these tips when the heat is on!

[Ian Felton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t age well.

Fundamentally, suggesting something like “only have a relationship with the patient as an expert, not as a person,” is terrible advice for creating a therapeutic relationship and doing therapy in general. This book will take you off-course.

[Pedro González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro obligatorio para todos los estudiantes de psicología. Sin embargo ya bastante obsoleto en relación a ciertas áreas de exploración.

[Hon Lady Selene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Therapists are people too, Harry...

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my introduction to Sullivan, and it served me well. He has a knack for conducting a good interview, getting the necessary information in a respectful, honest, and non-threatening way. He gives all kinds of tips and pointers, making this a very practical text.

The book is primarily aimed at students learning to give psychiatric interviews, but the information could be useful to anyone who does any kind of interviews professionally, or just wants more understanding of how interviews work.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most enjoyable read, but I greatly appreciate and respect Sullivan's humility and take on therapy. Good for the training psychologist interested in interpersonal psychotherapy.

[Marko]

I have the german edition.