Diagnostic Interview

What is a diagnostic interview?

Diagnostic interviews are essential tools used in healthcare to assess and diagnose mental health disorders. This type of clinical interviewing is a structured conversation between clinicians and patients to gather detailed information about their symptoms, history, and mental state. This information is then used to diagnose accurately and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Various diagnostic interview schedules are available, ranging from open-ended to highly structured clinical interviews. Some commonly used templates include the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5), the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS), and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). These templates help to ensure that all relevant information is gathered and that the interview process is standardized and systematic.

During a diagnostic interview, mental health professionals may ask questions about the patient's current symptoms, medical history, family history, and social support systems. They may also conduct a mental status exam to assess the patient's mental state. The clinician must establish a rapport with the patient while remaining objective and focused on gathering accurate information to determine possible presence of psychiatric disorders.

This interview is crucial for the diagnostic process. By using a structured template and asking targeted questions, clinicians can gather the information needed to make an accurate diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

How does this Diagnostic Interview Template work?

Structured diagnostic interviews are used by psychologists use to assess and evaluate a patient's mental health condition.

Here is a step by step guide on how you can use the template in your clinical practice:

Step 1: Access the template

Within this guide, you can select the "Use template" in the template preview to customize the tool within the Carepatron platform. You can also click on "Download" to access a free fillable PDF.

Step 2: Ask about the chief complaint and presenting problem

The template consists of diagnostic interview questions that can serve as a guide in your assessment process. First, ask the patient to describe the primary reason for their visit, including any symptoms they are experiencing. You can also ask their symptoms' onset, course, and duration in detail, whether it may be related to anxiety disorders, a major depressive disorder, or other mental disorders.

Step 3: Investigate the client's history

Ask about any past psychiatric diagnoses, hospitalizations, treatments, and any relevant family history. Them inquire about their history of substance use, and their medical history, including current medical conditions, surgeries, or medications. This interview schedule also includes questions asking the patient's living situation, employment, relationships, and other relevant social factors.

Step 4: Further assessment

The Diagnostic Interview Template also includes questions for assessment and goals for therapy. There is also a space for additional notes where the practitioner can also ask further questions or note observations such as a mental status examination or questions about a specific diagnostic criteria.

Step 5: Close the interview and decide next steps

Follow the closing questions to conclude the interview. After the interview, you can then analyze the responses and cross-reference with other assessment tests. From here, you can decide on the next steps such as giving a psychiatric diagnosis or recommending interventions to the patient.

When to use our clinical interview template?

Diagnostic interviewing templates are used in healthcare to assess and diagnose mental health disorders. They ensure that all relevant information is gathered and that the interview process is standardized and systematic. 

Some instances when Diagnostic Interview Templates are used include:

Initial assessment

Diagnostic Interview Templates are commonly used during a patient's initial assessment. This allows the clinician to gather detailed information about the patient's symptoms, history, and current mental state, which is then used to make an accurate diagnosis.

Differential diagnosis

Diagnostic Interview Templates can also differentiate between various mental health disorders. By asking targeted questions, the clinician can identify specific symptoms and behaviors characteristic of a particular disorder.

Treatment planning

Diagnostic Interview Templates can be used to develop an appropriate treatment plan. The clinician can identify the most effective treatment options by gathering detailed information about the patient's symptoms, history, and mental state.

Monitoring progress

Diagnostic Interview Templates can be used to monitor the patient's progress throughout treatment. By conducting follow-up interviews, the clinician can assess the effectiveness of the treatment and make any necessary adjustments.

Who is this Diagnostic Interview Template PDF for?

Diagnostic Interview Templates are used by various healthcare professionals involved in the assessment and diagnosis of mental health disorders.

Some of the users of these templates include:

Psychiatrists and psychologists

Psychiatrists use Diagnostic Interview Templates to diagnose and treat a mental disorder. For instance, in the case of posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, or a personality disorder, they have to develop an appropriate treatment plan according to the assessment results and diagnosis.  

Licensed clinical social workers

Licensed clinical social workers use Diagnostic Interview Templates to gather information about a patient's mental health history, symptoms, and overall functioning. They use this information to develop a treatment plan that addresses the patient's needs and goals.

Primary care physicians

Primary care physicians may use Diagnostic Interview Templates to screen patients for mental health disorders. They may gather information on a patient's mental health history, symptoms, and overall functioning and refer them to mental health specialists.

Benefits of free Diagnostic Interview Template

Using a free Diagnostic Interview Template offers several benefits to healthcare professionals, including:

Standardized approach

A template ensures the interview process is consistent across all patients, helping clinicians collect accurate and reliable information.

Time-saving

A pre-designed template reduces the time and effort required to develop a new questionnaire from scratch, allowing clinicians to focus more on analyzing the information collected.

Improved patient experience

Standardizing the interview process helps patients feel more at ease as they know what to expect during the interview. It also allows clinicians to ask all the relevant questions respectfully and efficiently.

Enhance diagnostic accuracy

Templates are designed to include all the necessary questions to elicit relevant diagnostic information about a patient's symptoms, allowing clinicians to make more accurate diagnoses.