FORMULATION Yvonne Edmonstone Jessie MacDonald

1. FORMULATION Yvonne EdmonstoneJessie MacDonald “The science of formulation must be combined with art. Something vital is lost if the formulation does not capture the essence of the case.” Denman

2. Case Formulation • Initially developed for psychodynamic approaches • Shown to be a replicable procedure • General psychiatric formulation includes genetic, medical, psychological, phenomenological & social components “Seeing the bigger picture” • At its simplest “Why has this individual become ill in this way at this particular time?” • Formulation = “systematic description” Hypothesis about the psychological mechanisms underlying the patient’s current difficulties.

3. Why Formulate? • Diagnosis alone is unlikely to be sufficient. Formulation gives more information as it focuses on more than just symptoms. It looks at why the problem occurred as well as what the problem is. • Helps in developing an understanding of the patient and their difficulties • Looks at what early experiences may have contributed to current difficulties.

4. Why Formulate? (Cont.) • Provides an individualized understanding of why problems have arisen and what is maintaining them. Looks at current stressors. • Helps in understanding relationships between problems. Looks at underlying beliefs, rules, standards & expectations. • Assists in choosing which problems should be tackled first i.e. choosing intervention point

5. Why Formulate? (cont.) • Guides selection of most appropriate treatments i.e. choosing intervention strategies like homework to improve treatment outcome. • Helps to predict patient’s behaviour i.e. likely response to treatment and potential difficulties • Helps to predict and manage setbacks in therapy.

6. Why Formulate? (cont.) • Gives the patient a rationale for therapy • Helps in understanding and working on relationship difficulties • Assists collaboration particularly if done as a joint venture.

7. Formulation – other benefits • May help reduce the length of treatment • Helps deal with blocks and difficulties that arise • Allows therapist to treat problems not come across before

8. Covert & Overt DifficultiesPersons 1989 Covert difficulties in a formulation are the patient’s core beliefs, conditional beliefs and compensatory strategies. Life events interact with covert difficulties to cause and maintain overt difficulties.

9. Formulatation – How? • Begin at “overt” level of difficulty i.e. What patient presents with? Why patient seeks treatment? Make an exhaustive list of problems –cognitive, behavioural, physical & emotional Physiology Emotion Behaviour Thoughts Environment

10. Formulation – How?(cont.) • Move to “covert” difficulties i.e. underlying psychological mechanisms such as vulnerabilities and coping strategies. What do all these problems have in common? E.g. beliefs, skill deficits or behavioural patterns which help explain difficulties Thoughts Compensatory strategies Assumptions Early Beliefs Current Experiences Experiences

11. Formulation – How? (cont.) • What is the meaning of the chief complaint? • What were the critical incidents precipitating the crisis leading to the presenting problems? • What are the factors that have lead this client to develop this problem at this time? • What significant life events have occurred?

12. Formulation How? (cont.) • What are the common themes of automatic thoughts? • What are the principal themes from the past? • What early experiences may have affected the formation of beliefs? • What early maladaptive schemas might account for this story?

13. Formulation – How? (cont.) • Are there hints about the kinds of underlying assumptions ? • What kinds of conditional beliefs are held? • What are the schemas about self, others and the world? • Can you propose an underlying mechanism that can account for all the problems on the list? • What further evidence is needed to test out the formulation?

14. Generic Formulation (Eden Unit)

15. Formulation:CBT Physiology Emotion Behaviour Thoughts Compensatory strategies Assumptions Early Beliefs Current Experiences Experiences

16. Formulation IPT (Bio-Psycho-Social Model) Biological Factors Genetics Medical illnesses Medical treatments Substance use Social factors Intimate relationships Social support Psychological Factors Attachment style Temperament Cognitive style Coping mechanisms Unique Individual Interpersonal Crisis (Focus) - Grief - Dispute - Transition - Sensitivity Interpersonal Distress Diagnosis

17. Background Factors CURRENT PROBLEMS Life Threatening Therapy Interfering Quality of Life Core Beliefs about Self Core Beliefs about Others EMOTIONS (that interfere with a more skilful response) OVERDEVELOPED BEHAVIOURS UNDERDEVELOPED BEHAVIOURS Goals Life threatening Behaviours Therapy Interfering Behaviours Quality of Life DBT Formulation

18. Formulation – Test it! • Does it make sense? • Do the early life experiences explain the formation of the schemas held? • Is the formation of conditional beliefs explained? • Does the impact of the critical incident make sense in relation to the rest of the formulation? • Do the presenting symptoms fit? • Does patient (& supervisor) agree with formulation?

19. Formulation – What next? • Complete formulation and agree therapy goals • Make treatment plan - An accurate formulation will assists selection of appropriate treatment strategies / interventions • Helps to predict how patient will respond • Consider obstacles to treatment e.g. what impact do patient’s beliefs, attitudes, personality etc have on treatment • May help to predict potential difficulties and suggest how to deal with them.

20. Case Formulation Exercise • AB is 23yr old woman “Depressed several months” “Binging and vomitting increasingly frequently” • 2nd Year nursing student – struggling with recent clinical placement • Some anxiety about completing course and finding work – describes self as “Perfectionist” • Boyfriend 6mths – Mechanic • Parents separated – Dad alcohol problems • Living at home with mother and brother • Husband has bad heart, stressful job with a lot of travelling • Pension reduced – paid off some of mortgage but financial worries with debts & credit cards beyond means

21. Formulation:Exercise Physiology Emotion Behaviour Thoughts Compensatory strategies Assumptions Early Beliefs Current Experiences Experiences

22. Case Conceptualisation worksheet“OVERT” Physiology Tired Lacking motivation Losing weight (BMI 18) Difficulty concentrating Emotion Behaviour Down / Depressed Withdrawal & avoidance Worried/Anxious Rarely go out except to work Restricting, binging and vomiting Thoughts “I’m rubbish, no good at this, will never make a nurse” “Mustn’t worry Mum” “Don’t want to see other people. Don’t do anything, nothing to talk about” “Not pretty – too fat – expect boyfriend will dump me” Environment Difficult, busy training placement Financial worries Parental dispute New relationship

23. Case Conceptualisation worksheet“COVERT” Compensatory strategies Avoidance & Perfectionism Assumptions Others look down on me because I’m not god enough I should do better I cant afford to make any mistakes if I am going to succeed in nursing If I was slim and pretty, then my relationship would last I mustn’t upset Mum as she has too much to deal with already Past Beliefs Current Experiences I’m useless Experiences Parents separated I’m no good Busy training placement Dad alcoholic I’m a failure Financial worries Ashamed of family Others are better than me Parental dispute New relationship

24. Further Reading • Case Formulation in Psychotherapy: Revitalizing Its Usefulness as a Clinical Tool Sim, Kang;KokPengGwee;Bateman, Anthony Academic Psychiatry; Jul/Aug 2005; 29:289 – 299 • The Quality of Psychotherapy Case Formulations: A Comparison of Expert, Experienced, and Novice Cognitive–Behavioraland Psychodynamic Therapists Tracy D. Eells, Kenneth G. Lombart, Edward M. Kendjelic, L.CarolynTurner, and Cynthia P. Lucas Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2005, Vol 73,No. 4, 579–589