This paper describes the mental processes by which the psychiatrist organizes and integrates data to produce a case formulation. The biopsychosocial formulation uses three perspectives (biological, psychological and social) to view the data and integrates these viewpoints into one broad, complex and dynamic appreciation of the patient. Guidelines for creating and communicating a case formulation are proposed.
References
1.
FriedmanR.S., ListerP.The current status of psychodynamic formulation.Psychiatry1987; 50: 126–141.
2.
RossC.S., LeichnerP.Canadian and British opinion on formulation.Annals of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada1986; 19: 49–52.
3.
GoldsmithS.R., MandellA.J.The dynamic formulation — a critique of a psychiatric ritual.Am J Psychiatry1969; 125: 152–157.
4.
CleghornJ.M.Formulation: a pedagogic antidote to DSM-III.Compr Psychiatry1985; 26: 504–512.
5.
Ben-AronM., McCormickW.O.The teaching of formulation: facts and deficiencies.Can J Psychiatry1980; 25(2): 163–166.
6.
HouptJ.L., WeinsteinH.M., RussellM.L.The application of competency-based education to consultation-liaison psychiatry: I. Data gathering and case formulation.Int J Psychiatry Med1976-77; 7: 295–307.
TanneyB.L., McDougallG.M.A model for teaching the skill of biopsychosocial integration. Innovations in medical education. Presented at the meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington DC, November, 1982.
PooleA.D., Sanson-FisherR.W.Understanding the patients: a neglected aspect of medical education.Soc Sci Med1979; 13: 37–43.
11.
CleghornJ.M., BellissimoA., WillD.Teaching some principles of individual psychodynamics through an introductory guide to formulations.Can J Psychiatry1983; 28(3): 162–172:
12.
GraciaR.I., LevittJ.J., TsuangM.T.A chronic psychotic: a longitudinal perspective.Psychiatry1989; 52: 26–40.
13.
EngelG.L.A unified concept of health and disease.Perspect Biol Med1960; 3: 459–485.
14.
EngelG.L.The clinical application of the biopsychosocial model.Am J Psychiatry1980; 137: 535–544.
15.
EngelG.L.The need for a new medical model: a challenge for biorhedicine.Science'1977; 196: 129–136.
16.
ArietiS.American handbook of psychiatry.New York NY: Basic Books,1959: 1317.
FlemingJ.Patterson P. The teaching of case formulation in Canada.Can J Psychiatry1993; 38(5): 345–350.
19.
McDougallG.M., TanneyB.L.A conceptualization of psychiatric formulation. Presented at the Annual Meeting of Program Directors in Psychiatry (COPE), Halifax NS, October 1976.
20.
FisherG.C.Child psychiatry: an observation.Can J Psychiatry1992; 37(6): 366–370.
