Diagnosis and Formulation in Psychiatry

Question 1

what does the biopsychosocial model state?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

what is a diagnosis?

Answer 2

tell us what people have (a group of consistent symptoms that can be categorised into a distinct entity)

Question 3

what is formulation?

Answer 3

how the person became ill - genetics, personality, psychological factors, biological factors, social circumstances and their environment

Question 4

what are predisposing factors?

Answer 4

areas of vulnerability that increase the risk for the presenting problem

Question 5

what are precipitating factors?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

what are perpetuating factors?

Answer 6

any conditions in the patient, family, community or larger systems that exacerbate rather than solve problem (ie lack of education)

Question 7

what are protective factors?

Answer 7

patients own areas of competency, skill, talents, interest and supportive elements
these counteract the predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors