A complete case formulation acts as a "map" that ties a patient's history to their current symptoms through four primary elements:
The therapist and patient work as "co-scientists" to develop this hypothesis. The Case Formulation Approach to Cognitive-Beha...
The underlying causes that maintain the problems, such as core beliefs (schemas), cognitive distortions, or maladaptive behaviors. A complete case formulation acts as a "map"
A comprehensive inventory of the patient's current symptoms, disorders, and life difficulties (e.g., housing, financial, or relationship issues). such as core beliefs (schemas)
Recent events or triggers that activated the psychological mechanisms and led to the current episode of distress.
The "heart" of this approach is the mechanism hypothesis—a specific theory about why this particular patient is struggling.