The Definition Of Case Formulation
I. INTRODUCTIONS
One definition of case formulation is ‘Case formulation aims to describe a person’s presenting problems and use theory to make explanatory inferences about causes and maintaining factors that can inform interventions’. What this means is that it is essentially a story not just to describe, but explain, how a person’s problem has developed, and how it is maintained so that treatments can be based on influencing those factors.
There are many different frameworks for case formulation, but several key elements are usually present: 1. A description of the presenting issues; 2. The factors that act to create vulnerability or precipitate the problems developing; 3. Factors that may not have been involved in the initial …show more content…
This formulation, which might be called a situation level formulation, is based on detailed assessment of the situation itself, but also on the symptom, disorder, problem, and/or case-level formulations developed earlier. Thus, when the therapist learned that John discontinued his antidepressant medications without discussing the matter with anyone (including the therapist), the therapist’s initial hypothesis about this behavior flowed out of the case-level formulation that had already been developed, which offered the therapist the initial hypotheses that John’s behavior resulted from his schema about the future as hopeless (and thus treatment as ineffectual), or from his schemas that he is a wimp if he needs medications, or that others (which may include the therapist) will attack and criticize him if he cannot recover without medications or is unhappy about side …show more content…
The frequency and intensity of his suicidal thoughts and urges have increased over the last 6 months as his medical condition has deteriorated. A couple of times each month, John checks the Hemlock Society webpage but denies that he has decided on a plan or has means to act on his urges.
Hepatitis C
In 1990 John was injured in an automobile accident and received a blood transfusion which infected him with the hepatitis C virus. Although John is receiving interferon therapy, it does not appear that he is benefiting. His liver is moderately cirrhotic, and many days he feels quite ill. John’s condition is life-threatening, and if it worsens, a liver transplant may be needed. John experiences several uncomfortable symptoms associated with his hepatitis C and interferon therapy, including flushing, dizziness, fatigue, and tremors.
Poor Medical
One definition of case formulation is ‘Case formulation aims to describe a person’s presenting problems and use theory to make explanatory inferences about causes and maintaining factors that can inform interventions’. What this means is that it is essentially a story not just to describe, but explain, how a person’s problem has developed, and how it is maintained so that treatments can be based on influencing those factors.
There are many different frameworks for case formulation, but several key elements are usually present: 1. A description of the presenting issues; 2. The factors that act to create vulnerability or precipitate the problems developing; 3. Factors that may not have been involved in the initial …show more content…
This formulation, which might be called a situation level formulation, is based on detailed assessment of the situation itself, but also on the symptom, disorder, problem, and/or case-level formulations developed earlier. Thus, when the therapist learned that John discontinued his antidepressant medications without discussing the matter with anyone (including the therapist), the therapist’s initial hypothesis about this behavior flowed out of the case-level formulation that had already been developed, which offered the therapist the initial hypotheses that John’s behavior resulted from his schema about the future as hopeless (and thus treatment as ineffectual), or from his schemas that he is a wimp if he needs medications, or that others (which may include the therapist) will attack and criticize him if he cannot recover without medications or is unhappy about side …show more content…
The frequency and intensity of his suicidal thoughts and urges have increased over the last 6 months as his medical condition has deteriorated. A couple of times each month, John checks the Hemlock Society webpage but denies that he has decided on a plan or has means to act on his urges.
Hepatitis C
In 1990 John was injured in an automobile accident and received a blood transfusion which infected him with the hepatitis C virus. Although John is receiving interferon therapy, it does not appear that he is benefiting. His liver is moderately cirrhotic, and many days he feels quite ill. John’s condition is life-threatening, and if it worsens, a liver transplant may be needed. John experiences several uncomfortable symptoms associated with his hepatitis C and interferon therapy, including flushing, dizziness, fatigue, and tremors.
Poor Medical