The initial interview: a preview -- Logistic preparations: what to do before the interview -- The therapeutic alliance: what it is, why it's important, and how to establish it -- Asking questions I: how to approach threatening topics -- Asking questions II: tricks for improving patient recall -- Asking questions III: how to change topics with style -- Techniques for the reluctant patient -- Techniques for the overly talkative patient -- Techniques for the malingering patient -- Techniques for the adolescent patient -- Techniques for other challenging situations -- Practical psychodynamics in the diagnostic interview -- Obtaining the history of present illness -- Obtaining the psychiatric history -- Screening for general medical conditions -- Family psychiatric history -- Obtaining the social and developmental history -- How to memorize the DSM-IV-TR criteria -- Interviewing for diagnosis: the art of hypothesis testing -- Mental status examination -- Assessing suicidal and homicidal ideation -- Assessing mood disorders I: depressive disorders -- Assessing mood disorders II: bipolar disorder -- Assessing anxiety disorders -- Assessing alcohol dependence and drug abuse -- Assessing psychotic disorders -- Assessing dementia and delirium -- Assessing eating disorders and somatization disorder -- Assessing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Assessing personality disorders -- How to educate your patient -- Negotiating a treatment plan -- Writing up the results of the interview.