Physical health problems: A framework and checklist for case formulation

In recent years there has been a proliferation of research and academic material published in relation to clinical health psychology and cognitive-behavioural factors in adjustment to physical health problems (Helder et al., 2002; Mohr and Cox, 2001; Stanton et al., 2007). There are also cognitive-behavioural models of psychological concepts such as loneliness that can be applied usefully when formulating presenting problems in this area (Badoux-Levy et al., 2004; Heinrich and Gullone, 2006). It is this potential to ensure linkage of other empirical data (from clinical health psychology work most often) through the cognitive-behavioural formulation that is a considerable strength and appeal of this approach. Although this provides therapists and clinicians with an expanded source of reference material to inform their assessment and intervention plans, it is not always clear how to integrate this with established cognitive-behavioural models and frameworks that are commonly used for formulating the origins, maintenance and contributors to various presenting problems associated with physical health concerns. This chapter proposes a framework within which a wide range of presentations can be considered.