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Argosy University

November 3, 2016

Abstract

Interviewing in psychology is a common research area in the field of qualitative research and whose research studies are subject to scrutiny by the ethics committee. The paper will address the research topic, "an assessment of the significance of interviewing techniques by psychotherapists in diagnosing mental illnesses to enhance treatment." The theme got selected to so that satisfactory content for improving treatment for people with a mental health condition can be established. The other objectives of the research would be to evaluate legal and ethical issues in interviewing, evaluation of psychological interviewing insights and building a good rapport between clients and therapists (Barlow, 2014). The researcher contacted the literature review that took time to compile information regarding the study. Many articles and books were used to come up with this report. The study was organized into themes, psychological interviewing based research and recommendations. The researcher identified the following topics during the process of compiling the literature review; confidentiality and privacy informed consent and harm (Haynes, & Heiby, 2003). The recommendations focused on the themes. After the research review had been conducted, it was found that there was the need to study further or some research gap was found to exist during the preparation of a client for an interview, harm, and benefits of psychological interviewing study and the existence of ethical and professional issues about research.

Introduction

Interviewing in psychology is a common research area in the field of qualitative research and whose research studies are subject to scrutiny by ethics committees. Interviews in psychology are structured or unstructured where the interviewer has topics and open-ended questions that guide the focus of the discussion rather than a list of closed-ended questions. Interviews in psychology are carried out between a client and a professional therapist on a one on one basis (Barlow, 2014). Interviewing in psychology is intended to reveal details about the interviewee's experience that would otherwise not be attained or realized by the use of questionnaires (Shea, 2016). The uncovered information about the informant is then employed in the establishment of a treatment plan for the client (Haynes, & Heiby, 2003). This paper is an independent literature review on the assessment of the significance of interviewing techniques by psychotherapists in diagnosing mental illnesses to enhance treatment.

Research Topic

The topic of study for the literature review was “An assessment of the significance of interviewing techniques by psychotherapists in diagnosing mental illnesses to enhance treatment." This topic was identified for research because over decades there has not been a satisfactory method of getting information from clients. Interviews have been used, but in many cases, they have not been yielding distinctive results. This study is important in the therapy because it will enhance the relationship between clients and counselors thus ensuring that quality information is attained to ensure that an effective treatment plan is structured (Shea, 2016). The research problem will address the many challenges like recommending the wrong treatment plans to a patient due to lack of sufficient information about the condition of the client.

Objectives of the Paper

The principal purpose of the research is to carry out an assessment of the significance of interviewing techniques by psychotherapists in diagnosing mental illnesses to enhance treatment by evaluating what researchers have already done on the topic, the current concerns in the field of psychological therapy and recommending ways that future researchers can research about (Corbin, & Morse, 2003). Other objectives would include the evaluation of the legal and professional ethical issues in interviewing, an assessment of the interviewing insights employed in therapy and the creation of a healthy relationship between clients and counselors during interviews (Michaelson, 2007). These objectives were addressed through the evaluation of the selected research sources that were used in the study.

Methods

The researcher contacted the literature review that took some time to compile or to come of the information regarding the study. The literature review works involved going through books and peer reviewed journals that were obtained by searching through the keywords of the research topic. Many of the research resources contained irrelevant information concerning the subject. However, the researcher settled on ten resources that are listed in the reference list.

The references that were identified for the study were grouped into different categories. One of the categories discussed interviewing in psychology generally without being associated with any other research. Another set of the references were connected to the study where the authors reviewed and described the significance of interviewing techniques in psychology in unveiling data about the psychological patient to aid treatment. The other category involved other studies that focused on interviewing in psychology as applied to particular groups of children, adolescents, and wrongdoers (Cashmore, 2006).

The review methods that were employed in the paper had limitations. The examination of the research materials was limited to abstract and the title, thus any material that discussed interviewing in psychology but it failed to refer to the research topic in the abstract were given less attention. Due to the thorough scrutiny on the materials, this literature review is seen as comprehensive. However, the conclusions regarding the themes discussed in the literature review are reasonably inclusive. The remaining part of this literature review was organized under themes; psychological interviewing techniques based research and recommendations subheadings (Corbin, & Morse, 2003).

Themes

Confidentiality and Privacy

Many of the research materials discussed confidentiality widely. The most common threat that was considered was the leakage of the information given by a client. Though the customer may provide information accurately to the therapist expecting to get the best treatment, the information was found to find its way to other hands that the client may not be safe (Shea, 2016). The breach of confidentiality derailed or prevented many customers from revealing sensitive information that could be instrumental to their problems.

Some of the material that was evaluated focused on the instances where researcher sought to breach the doctrine of confidentiality in the interest of the public. Some other journals and studies considered the related issues of the investigators' legal and professional duties when dealing with confidentiality where wrongdoing is reported (Austin, Williams, & Kilgour, 2011). The studies observed that confidentiality matters created a gap between patients and professionals as it is a threat to give details that were previously secret.

Privacy, on the other hand, was discussed in many journals as it is different from confidentiality. Most of the interviews could end up into matters that were not anticipated to be considered at the beginning. In occasions where unanticipated information is required, there is the danger of the interviewer focusing on the most sensational elements of the study (Haynes, & Heiby, 2003).

There are particular issues during interviewing sessions between interviewers and interviewees where family relationships may be discussed. Under such circumstances, privacy is under threat in that whenever the interviewer probes into areas that an interviewer would prefer to keep private, the private information is exposed to the interviewer.

Informed Consent

Informed consent is examined in many journals that were identified for the survey. Matters of confidentiality and privacy were designated as the primary reason for informed consent in interviewing in psychology (Cashmore, 2006). Although it is of significance having the participants of an interview to have the knowledge of privacy and confidentiality before engaging in an interview, the issues of privacy dictate that the latter cannot be assured.

As a result of the nature of the privacy matters, some authors recommended a model of continuous consent where the researcher reaffirms consent throughout the research process. Some researchers identified difficulties in obtaining informed consent especially when the clients or interviewees are from vulnerable groups (O’BRIEN, & ENZER, 1991). Problems may arise on informed consent where both the interviewer and the interviewee may be drawn into an interview on partial information and get a feeling to overlook the consent.

Harm

Many psychological interviews are related to sensitive issues that can trigger intense emotions (O’BRIEN, & ENZER, 1991). Search environments can lead to harming both the client and the therapist. Many researchers set possible harm against the possible therapeutic benefit that they investigated as other research materials raise doubts about the therapeutic benefit. Most of the journals identified the elements of information that must be avoided to ensure none of the participants in an interview gets hurt.

One of the authors investigated on the danger of exposing client’s self-perceived failures. The findings of the author are that the interviewer should try to reduce the hurt through exposing problems in a move to change the society (Bedini, Henderson, 1995). Psychological patients already get lots of harm from their psychological distress thus catalyzing it in an interview would mean more harm. Interviewers must seek for alternative methods of ensuring that interview questions that could hurt their clients are eliminated.

Psychological Interviewing Techniques Based Research

Taking into consideration the significance of interviewing techniques by psychotherapists getting information from people with a mental health condition in aid of securing treatment, it is striking to see how minimal, focused research has taken place. The review came across some studies related to interviewing techniques in psychology.

One of the studies focused on professional counselors that deal with patients with psychological problems. The theme of the survey was to investigate the impacts of collecting quality information from clients. In the study, confidentiality and harm to the interviewees were identified as the dominating themes. Another issue that was identified is a feeling of insecurity within the client.

Another study was solely considering the importance of interviewing techniques on young children and adolescents in particular on the matters of sexual abuse (O’BRIEN, & ENZER, 1991). The study identified that it required special understanding in the matters of children to extract information from this particular group. The themes that prevailed under the study were privacy and psychological harm as such interviews would lead to distress. However, the researcher noted that trouble was not hurting and trying to protect the interviewee from danger would distract the process.

Another study comprised of interviews with wrongdoers and people that need social reforms with trained counselors. The study investigated informed consent and confidentiality about the interviewing technique practices (Austin, Williams, & Kilgour, 2011). The research review source detected that there was increased tension between the interviewees. The interviewees never felt secure in the hands of the counselor as they perceived it as a plan to get information that will be used to prosecute them. It was found out that many people in this group offered false information that could not assist in formulating an effective treatment plan.

In another study, the ethical and professional interviewing technique requirements during psychological interviewing were contacted. The interviewees were found to be comfortable to give as much data as possible as long as the privacy and confidentiality of their information was guaranteed within the preferred technique (Potter, & Hepburn, 2005). The decision of the interviewees to disclose sensitive information was also influenced by the perception of the significance of the information to getting them assisted and the techniques that the therapist employed (YUDOFSKY, 1991).

Recommendations from the Studies

Confidentiality and Privacy

Some studies recommended that confidentiality must be guaranteed and incorporated within the process of psychological interviewing (Mason, 2009). However, some clients will not have a problem with some people getting their information (Wiles, 2008). Other researchers have suggested that patients must be informed that some interviewing techniques may not guarantee absolute confidentiality especially with life histories (Potter, & Hepburn, 2005).

The duty of secrecy can lead to conflicts and subsequent failure to obtain sufficient information from clients. Therefore, it is important to set boundaries of confidentiality in whatever interviewing technique utilized (Mason, 2009). It is also important to describe to the patient the circumstances that are appropriate to breach confidentiality. The therapists must draw up action plans in the event of a breach of secrecy in the process of interviewing.

Informed Consent

Many authors have recommended on informed consent placing their focus on the significance of providing detailed information to the person with a mental health condition on the nature of the interview technique used and the nature of the required information (Mason, 2009). Others recommend that there is need to obtain written consent. Some journals suggest process approval but give little support of their argument other than informing the client at the start of the interview session the purpose, scope of an interview and type of questions to be applied during the interview process (YUDOFSKY, 1991).

Harm

Many researchers suggest ways of eliminating damage to both the therapist and the person with a mental health condition (Potter, & Hepburn, 2005). The mostly identified way is the avoidance of questions during the interview that could make the client uncomfortable and which the client would like to remain secrets. The recommendations under this part include taking into consideration moral and professional ethics incorporated within the interviewing techniques during an interview, ensuring informed consent is applied and creating a good rapport with the client by showing concern to their situations (Mason, 2009).

Directions for Future Study

The review suggests that interviewing techniques in psychology share many ethical concerns with other research techniques in other fields. However, some of the concerns like privacy are of vital importance to psychological interviewing in extracting information from a client to aid informed treatment. The review indicates that some of the issues take different forms like process consent, thus interviewing techniques in psychology cannot be taken as an insignificant subject as it may cause major harm to the participants of discussions in psychology.

Some areas need further study. The first one is the preparation of a client psychologically for an interview. For a therapist to achieve the goal of preparing a client for a compelling interview, they may need to embrace some methodological procedural techniques like being relatively objective, use of counseling techniques and taking heed of sex, ethnicity, sexuality and class of an interview (Thompson, & Russo, 2011).

Apart from the preparation of a client, other areas will need further research. The first is the harms and benefits of the psychological interviewing techniques study. The second and third area is the extent of ethical matters about research and the view of client problems in the eyes of a therapist (Thompson, & Russo, 2011). Future researchers can focus on developing or reviewing the existing interviewing techniques applicable during examining patients with mental problems and probably coming up with other more objective interviewing techniques that enable patients to open up and give detailed data of their problems.

References:

Shea, S. C. (2016). Psychiatric interviewing: The art of understanding: A practical guide for

Psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, social workers, nurses, and other mental health professionals, with online video modules. United States: Elsevier - Health Sciences Division.

Austin, K. P., Williams, M, M. W., & Kilgour, G. (2011). The effectiveness of Motivational