Diagnosing boredom and confusion.

An interview schedule to determine whether individuals could be diagnosed psychologically as being in a bored, confused, or adaptive state of mind was constructed and tested. Boredom and confusion were viewed as two distinct maladaptive states of mind. Objectivity, reliability, and validity were demonstrated for the interview schedule. The schedule was effective in diagnosing maladaptive and adaptive states of mind in outpatients who sought help at a family practice clinic and in detecting changes from maladaptive states to an adaptive state of mind after four weeks of psychological treatment.