PSYCH 062: Psychiatric Interview, History, and Mental Status Examination of the Adult Patient
This chapter explores the foundations of psychiatric assessment: the psychiatric interview, the comprehensive clinical history, and the mental status examination (MSE). Together, these form the primary tools through which psychiatrists understand the experiences, symptoms, strengths, and struggles of the people they seek to help.
Unlike many areas of medicine, psychiatry relies heavily upon narrative. The patient’s story is not merely background information—it is often the central source of diagnostic and therapeutic insight. The interview therefore becomes both an investigative process and…
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