Discussion: Interviewing Techniques on Addiction Assessment

Addiction Assessment: One of the best ways to learn how to do an interview is to watch someone else conduct one. This week, you will view a media clip of someone conducting an interview that is part of an addiction assessment. The interview uses a biopsychosocial approach, in that it collects information about medical aspects (prior illnesses, current medications), social history (childhood, school, employment) and psychological functioning (anxiety, depression). The goal of the interview is to start developing an overall picture of the client.

In this Discussion, you will evaluate which interview strategies would be more effective than others in an addiction assessment.

To prepare for Addiction Assessment:

Review the Learning Resources, including the following:

• Chapter 5, “Assessment of the Patient,” in The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Substance Abuse Treatment
• Chemical Dependency Counseling: A Practical Guide
• Chapter 4, “The Biopsychosocial Interview”
• Appendix 6, “Sample Biopsychosocial Interview”
• The media titled Interviewing Techniques

Assignment:

Post a response to the following:

Based on your observation of the addictions professional in the scenario, describe one interview strategy you believe was effectively modeled. Explain why it was effective.

Which interviewing strategies used by the interviewer in the media would you avoid, and why?

Requires Resources on Addiction Assessment:

Perkinson, R. R. (2017). Chemical dependency counseling: A practical guide (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Chapter 4 “The Biopsychosocial Interview”

Chapter 5, “Assessment of the Patient,”

Focus on the particular questions asked by the interviewer and whether they are effective in assessing the biological (bio); emotional, attitudes, and behavior (psycho); and social (socio) aspects of the individual’s addiction.

Appendix 6, “Sample Biopsychosocial Interview”

This section is the basis for the week’s Assignment. Focus on Jane Roberts’s history of the present illness and past history. How might these aspects of her life affect the questions you would ask her during an addictions assessment?

One of the best ways to learn how to do an interview is to watch someone else conduct one. This week, you will view a media clip of someone conducting an interview that is part of an addictions assessment. The interview uses a biopsychosocial approach, in that it collects information about medical aspects (prior illnesses, current medications), social history (childhood, school, employment) and psychological functioning (anxiety, depression). The goal of the interview is to start developing an overall picture of the client.

In this Discussion, you will evaluate which interview strategies would be more effective than others in an addiction’s assessment.

To prepare:

Review the Learning Resources, including the following:

• Chapter 5, “Assessment of the Patient,” in The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Substance Abuse Treatment
• Chemical Dependency Counseling: A Practical Guide
• Chapter 4, “The Biopsychosocial Interview”
• Appendix 6, “Sample Biopsychosocial Interview”
• The media titled Interviewing Techniques