ABSTRACT
Introduction The ability to develop an accurate and concise psychological formulation of a patient’s problems is an invaluable skill for all clinicians. The Interpersonal Formulation synthesizes information about an individual’s biological and psychological makeup, attachment style, personality, social context, culture, and spirituality, creating a plausible hypothesis explaining her psychological symptoms. The formulation should lead to: ●● An understanding of the patient’s experience ●● A plausible and personally meaningful hypothesis explaining the origin of the patient’s
distress ●● A validation of the patient’s experience ●● A plausible rationale for treatment with Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) ●● A mutually determined focus for intervention based on the three Problem Areas ●● A guide to the therapeutic stance to be taken in treatment ●● A guide to the use of specific therapeutic techniques ●● An accurate assessment of prognosis.
