The underlying causes that maintain the problems, such as core beliefs (schemas), cognitive distortions, or maladaptive behaviors.
A comprehensive inventory of the patient's current symptoms, disorders, and life difficulties (e.g., housing, financial, or relationship issues). The Case Formulation Approach to Cognitive-Beha...
The historical life experiences, typically from childhood, that predisposed the individual to develop their specific psychological mechanisms. 2. Formulate the "Mechanism Hypothesis" The underlying causes that maintain the problems, such
The "heart" of this approach is the mechanism hypothesis—a specific theory about why this particular patient is struggling. The , championed by Jacqueline Persons and building
The therapist and patient work as "co-scientists" to develop this hypothesis.
The , championed by Jacqueline Persons and building on the work of Aaron T. Beck, is an idiographic (individualized) framework that allows therapists to apply evidence-based treatments to real-world clinical complexity. Unlike "manualized" therapy that follows a set protocol for a specific diagnosis, this approach uses a personalized hypothesis to understand the psychological mechanisms driving all of a patient's symptoms. 1. Identify the Core Components