The authors present a brief written psychodynamic formulation that
focuses on central conflicts, anticipates transferences and resistances,
and helps guide all psychiatric treatments. After placing the presenting
problem in the context of the patient's life and identifying nondynamic
determinants of the psychopathology, the formulation explains the
development of central conflicts and their repetitive effect on the
patient's behavior. It concludes by describing how these conflicts will be
manifested in treatment. Three sample formulations and their application
are presented to illustrate the value of this clinical tool.Abstract Teaser