How does a clinical interview differ from a structured interview?

A clinical interview is characterized by its flexibility and conversational approach, allowing the interviewer to adapt their questions based on the responses given by the interviewee. This format encourages a natural flow of conversation, facilitating deeper insights into the individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The interviewer can probe further into topics that seem particularly relevant or important based on the individual's responses, leading to a more personalized and contextually rich understanding of the individual being assessed.

In contrast, structured interviews follow a predetermined set of questions that are asked in the same order and manner to every participant, limiting the opportunity for follow-up questions or exploration of specific issues in depth. This rigidity can be beneficial for certain types of research or assessments where consistency and comparability are critical, but it may not capture the nuances of an individual's situation as effectively as a clinical interview might.