Improving cognitive case formulations and treatment planning in clinical practice and research

An individualized case formulation may be useful for determining when and for how long components of certain manual-based (MB) treatments should be used. Such a formulation is essential for treatment planning and implementation for cases where empirically supported standardized treatments are not available. Yet, procedures to develop valid individualized cognitive case formulations and to use them in treatment planning and implementation lag behind the standards used to develop MB treatments. The present article describes some of these problems and issues and suggests procedures that clinicians may use to address these issues in research or practice.