Clinical Interviewing – Fall, 2005

PSY 761

INSTRUCTOR: Diana Falkenbach

Class Meetings:                   Tues. 9:30-11:30 3417N

Office hours:                         Tues 11:30-1:30 or by appointment

Course Website:                  All class materials will be available on blackboard.  YOU MUST SIGN UP

Readings:                              There will be chapters from books and then some article readings per each week of class. A compilation of articles will be placed on blackboard. 

Required Books:                   Sommers-Flanagan, J. & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2003).  Clinical interviewing. New Jersey: Wiley & Sons.

Othmer, E., & Othmer, S. C. (2003). The clinical interview using DSM-IV (Volume 1: Fundamentals). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.

APA.  (2002) DSM-IV TR.  American Psychiatric Press.

Books you should consider purchasing:

First, et al.  (1997).  SCID.  American Psychiatric Press.

Course Description: 

This course will focus on the theoretical and practical issues related to clinical interviewing.  Class time will be divided into lecture, discussion, and classroom exercises in which students prepare and enact therapeutic interviews.  The purpose of this course is to develop interviewing skills, to learn to make accurate diagnoses, and to learn to conduct mental status exams. Upon completion of the course, the conscientious student should have acquired knowledge regarding the major theoretical perspectives with respect to the clinical interview. Additionally, each student should be able to identify the main components of the clinical interview. Finally, each student should be able to conduct a complete clinical (forensic) interview for the purposes of intervention and/or assessment.

Attendance Policy:

Missing classes will affect your grade!  If you don’t attend class, then you obviously can not be involved in class discussion, role plays, or class projects which are such an important part of graduate level work.

Grading Policy:

This class will be a combination of readings, lecture, class discussion and other creative things.  The quality of the course will be based largely on the degree of participation of the students.  A big part of the class will involve feedback to your peers on their interviewing styles, and it is important that everyone participates in this process.  You need to read the assigned readings prior to class and be ready to participate in class discussion.  I am always happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the readings or the course.  You may address these issues in class, e-mail, or set up an individual appointment.

Assignments:

1. Class Presentations: Each student is expected to contribute to a group presentation on a diagnostic category as it relates to clinical interviewing.  Presentations will consider empirical research on interviewing as it pertains to specific diagnostic issues. The presentation should be 15 minutes, with additional 5 minutes for discussion. Students are expected to provide a detailed outline of presentations, findings and conclusions. 

2. Role Plays:  When discussing specific types of diagnostic interviews, students will be required to present a role play of a mental status exam and one specific type of interview. Students will pair up where one student plays the therapist and the other plays the “patient”. Each student will have to be both the interviewer and interviewee at one point in the semester.  A written copy of a complete interview and a script of the role play will be required and is due prior to the role-play.  Role Plays should be 20 minutes long.

3. Final Report: A clinical report including introduction and background, mental status exam, formulation and diagnosis, and recommendations will be due on the role-play you conduct in class.  More detail on what to include will be provided.  This report is due 2 weeks after the role play

4. Supervision: All students will be graded on the oral feedback they provide to their peers in class.  After each role-play students will have a “quiz” to turn in with the symptoms they observed.  Additionally, each student will be responsible for reading their partner’s final paper and formulating feedback on their interviewing style (hint – take notes form feedback in class) and on the paper itself.  Students will be required to turn in written comments one week after role play.

5. Final Exam: Final Exam is TBA 

Grading Component                                                            Maximum Points Possible

Class Group Presentation                                                                   100 points

Participation and Feedback (50) & Supervision (50)                      100 points

Role Play                                                                                               100 points

Final Report                                                                                          100 points

Final Exam                                                                                             100 points             

TOTAL                                                                                                  500 points

Missed Assignments:

There will be no opportunity to make up missed assignments or exams.  Missed work receives and F (55). An “I” grade indicates incomplete coursework and may be awarded only when a small portion of the student’s work is incomplete and only when the student is otherwise earning a passing grade.    

Accommodations in Testing:  If you require special accommodations for testing (e.g., large type or extra time), you must provide documentation to me at least two weeks before the first exam so proper arrangements can be made.  Contact the office for Services for Students with Disabilities at 237-8122 during the first week of class. 

Misconduct:

All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute academic misconduct. You are required to do your own work on all class assignments, papers, and exams. Any work submitted as part of the academic requirements is assumed to be original work unless it is properly quoted or cited in APA format (Use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association).  Otherwise it will be viewed as literary theft.  If you have any questions regarding APA citing or format, please ask me.

The College Policy on Plagiarism reads: "Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else's ideas, words, or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one's own creation. Using the ideas or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism. It is the student's responsibility to recognize the difference between statements that are common knowledge (which do not require documentation) and restatements of the ideas of others. Paraphrase, summary, and direct quotation are acceptable forms of restatement, as long as the source is cited. Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The Library has free guides designed to help students with problems of documentation." (John Jay College of Criminal Justice Graduate Bulletin: 2002-2004, p. 36)

The College Policy on Cheating reads: "Students are prohibited from using books, notes, and other reference materials during examinations except as specifically authorized by the instructor. Students may not copy other students' examination papers, have others take examinations for them, substitute examination booklets, submit papers written by others, or engage in other forms of academic dishonesty." (John Jay College of Criminal Justice Graduate Bulletin: 2002-2004, p. 36).

*The instructor reserves the right to alter the above schedule and procedures as necessary to accommodate extenuating circumstances.  Announcements of any changes made to the above schedule will be provided during regular class meeting times.  If you are absent during a class meeting, it is YOUR responsibility to find out about any changes made to the above schedule