Case Formulation

Question 1

definition

Answer 1

the use of clinical info to draw up a psychological explanation of the client’s problems and to develop a plan for therapy.

clinicians who follow this approach believe clients are uniquely different and therefore require an individualised approach

the clinician’s theoretical approach will determine how they explain the client’s problems and what info they require during the case formulation process

Question 2

Persons (1989) describes case formulation as having 6 components….

Answer 2

1. creating a list of the clients problems
2. identifying and describing the underlying psychological mechanisms that might be mediating these problems
3. understanding the way in which the psychological mechanisms generate the client’s problems
4. identifying kinds of events that may have precipitated the clients problems
5. identifying how these precipitating may have caused the current problems through the proposed psychological mechanisms
6. developing a scheme of treatment based on these explanations and predicting any obstacles to treatment.