Psychological Formulation as an Alternative to Psychiatric Diagnosis. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Johnstone, Lucy
• Other Names: Kamens Sarah R. guest-editor.; Robbins Brent Dean guest-editor.; Flanagan Elizabeth H. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of humanistic psychology. Volume 58:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 30
• Page End: 46
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: formulation -- team formulation -- psychiatric diagnosis -- DSM-5; Humanistic psychology -- Periodicals; 150.192
• DOI: 10.1177/0022167817722230
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1678

Abstract

The article gives an overview of psychological formulation, a rapidly expanding practice in the United Kingdom that is supported by the British Psychological Society. It is argued that formulation can provide a credible alternative to psychiatric diagnosis in the context of public admissions about lack of reliability and validity of current diagnostic systems. However, vigilance and best-practice principles are essential to ensure that this approach is not assimilated back into the status quo.