Diagnosis and Formulation

Question 1

what s the bio-psycho-social formulation

Answer 1

health and illness is determined by a dynamic interaction between biological, psychological and social factors

Question 2

what is a diagnosis

Answer 2

what people have - group of symptoms put together

Question 3

what is formulation

Answer 3

tells us how a person became ill - genetics, personality, psychological factors, social factors, environment

Question 4

how to u make a formulation

Answer 4

4 Ps 
predisposing factors 
precipitating factors 
perpetuating factors 
protective factors

Question 5

what are predisposing factors

Answer 5

areas of vulnerability that increase the risk for the presenting problem

eg.- genetic predisposition, prenatal alcohol exposure

Question 6

what are precipitating factors

Answer 6

stressors or other events that are related to the current symptoms and may be lead to development of symptoms

eg. identity conflict at developmental transitions, trauma

Question 7

what are perpetuating factors

Answer 7

factors that are making you ill right now - exacerbate rather than solve the problem

eg. family, community, relationships, conflicts, lack of education, financial stress, lack of employment

Question 8

what are protective factors

Answer 8

patients own areas of competency, skill, talents, interest and supportive elements

Question 9

how do you arrange the factors when formulating

Answer 9

by splitting them into 3 categories:

• biological (genetics, fx, medical hx, medications, substance use)
• psychological
• social