Final answer:
A clinical interview is the most common method for assessing depression in clinical practice, providing a in-depth, personalized evaluation over other methods like self-report inventories and screening instruments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common method of assessing depression in everyday clinical practice is through a clinical interview. Clinical interviews allow healthcare professionals to gather in-depth information about the patient's symptoms, behavior, and history. This personalized interaction is essential to develop a nuanced understanding of the patient's mental state and to formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan.
While self-report inventories, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and brief-screening instruments, are also used, these are complementary tools often employed alongside clinical interviews. Self-report inventories are objective tests that use multiple-choice items or Likert scales to assess personality and symptoms of depression. However, they carry the risk of respondents providing socially desirable answers rather than accurate ones.
Screening instruments are used for rapid assessment to identify individuals who may need a more comprehensive evaluation. Ultimately, the choice of assessment tool can depend on the clinical setting, the patient's presentation, and the available resources.
Final answer: A clinical interview is the most common method of assessing depression in everyday clinical practice due to its comprehensive and personalized approach.