THE INTERPERSONAL CONTEXT OF MENTAL-HEALTH INTERVIEWS

Little is known about the composition and effects of the interpersonal contexts in which epidemiological interviews are conducted. The Epide miological Catchment Area (ECA) study affords an opportunity to examin e the frequency and impact of third party presence. Almost half of the interviews at the Los Angeles site of the ECA study were conducted in the presence of a third party, typically the spouse or child of the r espondent. Results indicate that third party presence is not related e ither to reports of symptoms or to performance on a test of cognitive impairment. Although findings suggest that respondents are not influen ced by the presence of others, they may also reflect a variety of cult ural, situational, and methodological processes.