An augmented structured interview for measuring subcomponents of the Type A behavior pattern.

Abstract

The authors note an increasing interest in certain subcomponents of the Type A behavior pattern (TABP) such as time urgency, perpetual activation, and anger in versus anger out. Based on that observation they pilot tested twenty-four newly created interview items designed to augment those of the commonly employed Structured Interview (SI). Nineteen of the twenty-four items were then selected for use in more precise assessment of the four TABP subcomponents mentioned above. These new items, in combination with those of the existing SI, were labeled the Augmented Structured Interview (ASI). Obtained data on the ASI items support the need for assessing Type A subcomponents (instead of relying solely on a global measure of the TABP). The data also suggest that TABP subcomponents are best assessed by means of interview items rather than self report measures. The ASI is recommended for both clinical and research purposes as a supplement to the SI, which to date has proven to be the best means for measuring global Type A tendencies.