Behavioral interview: what is it, and what is it for in psychology

The behavioral interview is a technique of inquiry and information gathering used in the field of clinical psychology and psychological treatment..

It is a tool based on scientific principles and necessary to apply at the beginning of the therapeutic process to know which are the problem situations and behaviors of the patient that must be addressed and be modified.

In this article we explain what the behavioral interview consists of, what its objectives are and other details of interest.

Behavioral assessment in psychology

Behavioral assessment in psychology and, particularly, within the cognitive behavioral therapies, is a paradigm that emerged as an alternative to traditional assessment that was based on unobservable phenomena and constructs. abstract, more typical of the psychodynamic approach, which is the one that has dominated a large part of clinical psychology during the last century. past.

Treatment based on a behavioral approach focuses on observable and overt behavior as the focus of the evaluation

and the later psychological treatment. Although covert variables are not ruled out, they are not considered to have a direct influence on the person's behavior. This type of evaluation is based, therefore, on scientific principles and assumptions that can be validated through inquiry and inference, using methods such as behavioral interviewing and other techniques.

In order to carry out a behavioral evaluation, different methods and procedures can be used, with the aim of detect problem behaviors and their parameters (antecedents, mediating and moderating variables, consequences, etc.). One way to reduce contamination and errors during the evaluation process is to use multiple evaluation instruments and sources of information (work colleagues, family members, friends etc).

Among the most used evaluation instruments are: behavioral observation, evaluation cognitive-behavioral, the psychophysiological evaluation and the behavioral interview, which we will talk about in more detail. detail below.

Behavioral interview: definition and objectives

The behavioral interview is an assessment tool designed to collect information about the patient's demands and relevant parameters of problem situations and behaviors. Although it has an interview format, it can also be used in a self-administered way.

The application of the behavioral interview must meet the following objectives:

• Offer the patient an explanation of what is going to be done during the interview, the reasons why do you need detailed and specific information about your problems, situations and behaviors specific.

• Identify the parameters of the problem behaviors, as well as their frequency, intensity and duration (p. eg How many times does it happen? How long has it been happening?).

• Identify problem behaviors and define them in behavioral terms, in an objective and precise way (p. eg What exactly happens in that area? What is wrong with your work?).

• Determine the history of the occurrence and non-occurrence of the problem behavior (eg. eg What happened before it happened? What was she thinking before doing that?).

• Determine the consequences of the problem behavior (eg. eg What happened right after? What did you feel as soon as the behavior ended?).

• Identify the resources and strengths of the patient.

• Establish the measurement of relevant behaviors, such as knowing who or when they will register.

• When finished, make a summary and assess whether the person interviewed has correctly understood the entire process and agrees.

Phases and application process

To carry out a behavioral interview correctly, a series of phases and specific guidelines must be followed.. In the first place, the general objective of the interview must be established and inquire about the current functioning of the patient in order to identify the existence of maladaptive and inappropriate behaviors in one or more contexts.

Sometimes, in this first phase, the interviewer may focus too much on the subject's history; and although understanding the origin and genesis of the problems can provide additional knowledge, the really important information is the current one and the one that the patient provides at the present moment.

In order to be able to satisfactorily assess all problem behaviors, it is necessary to try to make a description as precise as possible, always including the parameters of frequency, intensity and duration in relation to the different situations in which they occur, since this will facilitate the task of the clinician throughout the behavioral interview, when determining whether these behaviors are a problem because they are deficient or because they occur in excess.. Typically, if the patient has no prior experience doing cognitive behavioral therapy, he or she may have some difficulty in identifying and responding to questions that involve differentiating and distinguishing between thoughts, emotional states, behaviors, and physiological responses, all organized into a structure behavioral. However, the work of the professional is also to educate the patient in the discrimination of the different levels of behavior.

During the behavioral interview, it is important for the clinician to help the patient operationalize behavioral traits, attitudes and moods; that is to say, it is about making specific descriptions that are objective and precise in order to be able to later intervene on the variables effectively.

Finally, we must not forget to collect information regarding the generalization process that the problem behavior has had in other areas of the patient's life. This can lead to a more exhaustive analysis of certain environments (work, school, home, etc.) in order to intervene in them.. At the end of the interview, the clinician will provide a conceptualization of the problem, detail the intervention strategies to follow, as well as an approximate estimate of the duration of the treatment.

An example of a behavioral interview

Here are some of the most common questions asked in a typical behavioral interview:

• Describe, in detail, the reason for your inquiry.

• Describe as best you can what is happening to you (what you feel, what you think, what do you think about the problem that brings you here).

• Specify the last time the problem occurred (what, how, where and when).

• In general, how often does the problem occur? What is its duration? How intensely does it occur (on a scale of 1 [not at all] to 5 [a lot])?

• In what way do you consider that the problem that brings you here affects your daily life?

• Does the problem occur in specific situations? Please describe which ones (characteristics of the situation, people present, what happens before and after, etc.).

• Tell more about the history of the problem, when did those demonstrations start?

• Specify what, when, where and how it happened to you the first time they appeared, and under what circumstances.

• Since then, has the problem worsened? Does it stay with the same intensity? Is it more intense? Less?

• Have you sought help before? If so, with what professionals, what treatments and on what dates.

• Finally, what do you think is causing your problem?

Bibliographic references:

• Horse, v. E., Buela-Casal, G., & Sierra, J. c. (1996). Evaluation manual in clinical and health psychology. XXI Century of Spain Publishers.

• Edelstein, B.A. and Yoman, J. (1991). The behavioral interview. To see. Caballo (Comp.), Manual of therapy techniques and behavior modification (pp. 751-775). Madrid: 21st century

• Fernandez, M. Á. R., Garcia, M. YO. D., & Crespo, A. v. (2012). Manual of cognitive behavioral intervention techniques. Desclée de Brouwer.