Diagnostic assessment in psychiatry, as a formulation and as a joint re-construction process between the clinician and the patient, is essential in clinical care. Clinical interview is the crucial tool of the clinician in this process. Accordingly, a two-fold task is faced. On one hand, the clinician is in need of making a comprehensive diagnostic assessment to construct a valid and working formulation of the patient's situation and a treatment plan.

On the other hand, the bases for a psychotherapeutic alliance and rapport should be established. A comprehensive diagnostic assessment aims to bridge the current scientific evidence and knowledge with the uniqueness of the specific person who presents for care. The clinician facing the complexities of the human existence in health and ill mental health constructs working hypotheses in the context of the interview, to understand and formulate the psychopathological state. Clinical interview serving as a practical channel in constructing these hypotheses, also serves as the main tool in establishing a therapeutic alliance. The theory and practice of different schools of psychotherapies offer considerable contributions to the clinician in managing these tasks.

Understanding the meaning of the human suffering through empathy in a judgment free milieu is essential in the establishment of rapport, compliance and a better clinical outcome. This presentation will discuss the complexity of diagnostic process in psychiatry and emphasize the contributions of psychotherapeutic theory and skills and humanistic approaches in this process. Brief clinical vignettes from the authors’ clinical practice will be used to broaden the scope of discussion.