Abstract: A computer-based interviewing method for assessing mental and/or cognitive illness in a human subject is described. The method includes determining one or more personal characteristics of the human subject to be interviewed. The personal characteristics can include gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, accent, dialect, educational level, religion, etc. The subject is then presented with vocal or visual stimuli to which the subject responds. The vocal or visual stimuli are presented in one or more corresponding personal characteristics of the subject determined earlier (e.g. using a voice and/or an animated image and voice that corresponds to one or more of the personal characteristics). The subject's responses are compiled into a programmable computer and analyzed by a pre-selected test protocol. An alphanumeric value is then generated which corresponds to the presence and/or severity of the mental or cognitive illness in the subject tested.