Am J Psychiatry 1980; 137:611-613
Copyright © 1980 by American Psychiatric Association
Interviewing bipolar patients and their families
BG Waters, I Marchenko-Bouer and DR Offord
The authors report on the case ascertainment phase of a pedigree study of
patients with bipolar affective disorder. The nature of the research
interview, which necessarily probes for symptoms and signs of affective
disorder, appeared to have a provocative effect on some subjects by
exposing heavily defended conflicts related to the expression of affect.
Although such studies are necessary, researchers must be sensitive to the
needs of their subjects and not regard the ascertainment interview as
benign and uncathected.
