Differentiate case formulation from diagnosis in CBT practice.

• A. Diagnosis identifies a syndrome; case formulation builds a dynamic, individualized explanation of maintaining factors and treatment targets.
• B. Case formulation is simply another label for diagnosis.
• C. Diagnosis is dynamic and individualized; case formulation is fixed.
• D. Case formulation replaces the need for diagnosis entirely.

Answer: (A)

In CBT, diagnosis and case formulation play different but complementary roles. Diagnosis identifies a syndrome or disorder based on criteria, giving a label that helps with communication, prognosis, and service decisions. Case formulation, on the other hand, is an individualized, evolving explanation of how this person’s problems are maintained in daily life. It ties together cognitive processes, beliefs, behaviors, emotions, and contextual factors to specify the maintaining factors and the specific targets for treatment. This makes formulation a practical map for choosing interventions and tracking change over time.

The other statements miss the essence. Case formulation isn’t just a label for diagnosis, and it isn’t fixed or meant to replace diagnosis entirely. Rather, diagnosis remains useful for classification and planning services, while formulation provides a dynamic, person-specific plan that guides therapy.