What is a case formulation and how does it link to treatment planning? How would the development of a case formulation benefit the patient and the clinician?

Week 7 – Developing the Case Formulation

Homework Assignments Content

Now that we’ve gained clinical knowledge on preparing an assessement, the next important step is the development of a case formulation which is critical in the planning of treatment for behavioral health patients.
A case formulation is the primary objective of the clinical assessment. It is a model of the patient and how that patient functions in the world. It provides a hypothesis about the patient’s problems that is based on the theory of psychopathology which guides the clinician’s understanding and treatment of such problems.

1) What is a case formulation and how does it link to treatment planning? (Include key aspects)

2) How would the development of a case formulation benefit the patient and the clinician?

3) Explain the concept of theory-based case forumation and give one example.

4) Briefly explain each step in developing a case formulation.