Diagnostic Interviewing

Perhaps the most difficult milestone in a young clinician's career is the completion of the first interview. For the typical trainee, the endeavor is fraught with apprehen­ sion and with some degree of dread. If the interview goes weIl, there is consider­ able rejoicing; if it goes badly, much consternation results. Irrespective of the amount of preparation that has taken place before the interview, the neophyte will justifiably remain nervous about this endeavor. Thus, the first edition of Diagnostic Interviewing was devoted to providing a clear outline for the student in tackling a large variety of patients in the interview setting. In consideration of the positive response to the first edition of Diagnostic Interviewing, published in 1985, we and our editor at Plenum Press, Eliot Werner, decided that it was time to update the material. However, the basic premise that a book of this nature needs to encompass theoretical rationale, clinical description, and the pragmatics of "how to"once again has been followed. And, as in the case of the first edition, this second edition does not represent the cat's being skinned in yet another way. Quite to the contrary, we still believe that our students truly need to read the material covered herein with considerable care, and once again the book is dedicated to them. We are particularly concerned that in the clinieal education of our graduate students, interviewing has been given short shrift.