Psychiatric Interview Simulation by Computer

Abstract

A particularly interesting form of computer simulation may be undertaken when it is possible to arrange real-time interaction between a computer program and a human subject. A program can be written to play the part of an interviewer who is engaged in information gathering for diagnostic purposes. In this respect it can imitate a sequential decision process analogous to that of medical diagnosis by a clinician. On the other hand, it can play the part of a patient and act as a repository of information which can provide practice in interviewing. The writing of such interaction programs by those with clinical skills is made possible by an appropriate programming language oriented to this class of problems.The paper describes such a programming language, called COMPUTEST, and its use for the programmed simulation of both physician and patient behavior in the context of an initial psychiatric interview.