Psychiatric Formulation

Question 1

Name the 4 P’s

Answer 1

Predisposing
Precipitating
Perpetuating
Protective

Question 2

What are predisposing factors?

Answer 2

Factors which put a person at risk of developing a mental health problem

Question 3

Examples of predisposing factors?

Answer 3

Family history,
problematic pregnancy/delivery, 
failure to thrive, 
problematic childhood, 
previous abuse,
history of brain injury, 
poor financial situation, 
unemployment,
single parenthood, 
low self-esteem

Question 4

What are precipitating factors ?

Answer 4

Events or factors which trigger the onset of a mental health condition

Question 5

Examples of precipitating factors?

Answer 5

Medical illness/injury,
increased stress,
unhealthy coping mechanisms (alcohol excess, drugs) traumatic life event,
stressful life event

Question 6

What are perpetuating factors?

Answer 6

Factors that maintain a patient’s mental health problem, prevent it from getting better.

Question 7

Examples of perpetuating factors?

Answer 7

Poor physical health, 
functional impairment, 
substance abuse, 
poor coping strategies,
poor insight, 
lack of support,
social isolation,
poor financial situation, 
relationship problems

Question 8

What are protective factors?

Answer 8

Factors in a patient’s life which prevent a patient from developing a mental health problem, or make a mental health problem less severe or more manageable for the patient to cope with

Question 9

Examples of protective factors?

Answer 9

Support network, 
insight,
good physical health, 
good finances, 
employment, 
good coping strategies

Question 10

Biopsychosocial Model

Answer 10

Consideration of all the biological, psychological, and social factors in a patient’s life which affect their illness. These can be applied to the patient’s formulation, shedding light on what the aetiology of the patient’s problem is in all these aspects, which places emphasis on targeting all aspects of a patient’s life within the investigations taken and the management of the patient’s problem, which makes solving the patient’s problem more likely by targeting all of the issues they face on these three levels. Thus leading to better outcomes for the patient