# Structured Diagnostic Interviews in Psychotherapy Training: Trainees’ Beliefs About Interviews and Their Relationship to Overall Interview Satisfaction

## TL;DR

This study explores how psychotherapy trainees feel about structured diagnostic interviews and how their beliefs affect their satisfaction with these tools.

## Contribution

The study identifies trainees' beliefs about structured diagnostic interviews and their impact on satisfaction, offering insights for improving training programs.

## Key findings

- Trainees' satisfaction with structured diagnostic interviews is positively related to their familiarity with these tools.
- Beliefs that structured diagnostic interviews are efficient and reliable increase satisfaction, while beliefs that they disrupt patient relationships decrease it.
- Personality factors have little influence on trainees' satisfaction with structured diagnostic interviews.

## Abstract

Structured diagnostic interviews (SDIs) are frequently used in science and are highly recommended for diagnosing mental disorders in clinical practice. However, the actual SDI familiarity and use among psychotherapy practitioners is limited. To identify opportunities for training improvement and ensure a frequent SDI application by future practitioners, data on SDI experiences and beliefs among current psychotherapy trainees is essential.

N = 233 psychotherapy trainees completed an online survey that included questions about their SDI experiences, use, beliefs, and their estimation of patient SDI satisfaction and acceptance. In addition, adherence to psychotherapeutic orientation and personality factors were assessed. Correlation between SDI satisfaction and familiarity was computed. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to predict trainees’ SDI satisfaction by beliefs about SDIs. Exploratory correlations between SDI satisfaction, adherence to psychotherapeutic orientations, and personality factors were analyzed.

SDI familiarity was significantly related to trainees’ overall SDI satisfaction. Both positive (e.g., “SDIs are efficient”) and negative (e.g., “SDIs disturb the relationship to patients”) beliefs about SDIs predicted trainees’ overall satisfaction. Small relationships were found between SDI satisfaction and adherence to psychotherapeutic orientation, but none to personality factors.

Psychotherapy training programs should provide sufficient opportunity for SDI practice to promote trainee satisfaction. Training providers should address trainees’ beliefs and concerns, underline advantages of SDIs, and inform about actual SDI acceptance among patients to resolve prejudice. Trainees’ personality appears to be less relevant to SDI satisfaction, but further investigations are needed. The findings have important implications for overcoming barriers to the use of structured diagnostic interviews.

Most psychotherapy trainees encounter SDIs, but experiences and use vary.Trainees’ level of SDI satisfaction is medium on average, but it positively relates to familiarity.Satisfaction is higher when SDIs are viewed as reliable and efficient.The views that SDIs are confusing and threaten the therapeutic relationship raise dissatisfaction.

Most psychotherapy trainees encounter SDIs, but experiences and use vary.

Trainees’ level of SDI satisfaction is medium on average, but it positively relates to familiarity.

Satisfaction is higher when SDIs are viewed as reliable and efficient.

The views that SDIs are confusing and threaten the therapeutic relationship raise dissatisfaction.