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Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy

Article contents

The Content, Quality and Impact of Cognitive Behavioural Case Formulation During Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 April 2014

Anna Nattrass ,
Stephen Kellett ,
Gillian E. Hardy  and
Tom Ricketts
Anna Nattrass*
Affiliation:
University of Sheffield, UK
Stephen Kellett*
Affiliation:
University of Sheffield, and Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Gillian E. Hardy
Affiliation:
University of Sheffield, UK
Tom Ricketts
Affiliation:
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, UK
*
Reprint requests to Anna Nattrass / Stephen Kellett, Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, Sheffield. E-mail: annanattrass@yahoo.com/s.kellett@sheffield.ac.uk
Reprint requests to Anna Nattrass / Stephen Kellett, Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, Sheffield. E-mail: annanattrass@yahoo.com/s.kellett@sheffield.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background: Case formulation (CF) is considered a core component of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Despite this, few studies have explored the content and quality of CFs in routine practice and any associated impact on treatment outcome. Aims: This study investigated (1) the content, timing and quality of CF for patients (N = 29) with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; (2) the impact of CF on symptoms, distress and therapeutic alliance; and (3) the relationship between CF quality and treatment outcome. Method: CF content and quality were assessed from audiotapes of routine CBT sessions using a validated coding manual and evaluated against treatment outcomes at different stages of therapy. Results: CFs were developed early during treatment and contained strong behavioural and cognitive components, with a focus on symptoms and maintaining factors. CF quality ratings ranged from rudimentary to excellent. A significant improvement in distress and the therapeutic alliance occurred following the introduction of CF, but no significant relationship was found between CF quality and outcome at any stage of treatment. Conclusion: CF may be valuable in reducing patient attrition, due to its impact early in treatment. Further research is needed to explore the most important components of CF. Theoretically sound and disorder specific measurement tools for evaluating CFs are required.

Keywords

Case formulationCBTobsessive compulsive disorder
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 43 , Issue 5 , September 2015 , pp. 590 - 601
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2014 

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