Clinical formulation

A clinical formulation, also known as case formulation, case conceptualisation, and problem formulation, is a theoretically based explanation or conceptualisation of the information obtained from a clinical assessment. It offers a hypothesis about the cause and nature of the presenting problems and is considered an adjunct or alternative approach to the more categorical approach of psychiatric diagnosis. In clinical practice, formulations are used to communicate a hypothesis and provide a framework for developing the most suitable treatment approach. It is most commonly used by mental health professionals and is deemed to be a core component of that profession. Clinical psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers, and some psychiatrists use this formulation based on specific psychological frameworks.