Case Formulation with Children and Adolescents

Highly practical and accessible, this book shows how to synthesize complex information about child and adolescent mental health problems into clinically useful, dynamic case formulations. Strategies and tools are provided for analyzing the biological, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual, and developmental factors that may be contributing to the difficulties of clients ages 4-18. Numerous case examples illustrate the steps in crafting a comprehensive formulation and using it to plan effective, individualized treatment. Strategies for overcoming frequently encountered pitfalls in case formulation are highlighted throughout.

Katharina Manassis, MD, FRCPC, is Staff Psychiatrist and Senior Associate Scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, where she founded and continues to work in the Anxiety Disorders Program for children and youth. The Program focuses on the development and scientific evaluation of cognitive-behavioral treatments. Dr. Manassis is also Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and a member of the Human Development and Applied Psychology Department at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. These appointments allow her to supervise graduate students, residents, and fellows in the treatment and study of childhood anxiety. Dr. Manassis leads several funded research studies to better understand and treat childhood anxiety disorders. She has published over 70 papers in professional journals in this field and is the author of two widely read books for parents, Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child and Helping Your Teenager Beat Depression, as well as books for child mental health professionals, including Problem Solving in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy.

Introduction
1. Benefits of Case Formulation and a Conceptual Framework
2. Gathering Relevant Information: Key Assessment Strategies
3. Biological Aspects of the Formulation
4. Psychological Aspects of the Formulation
5. Social Aspects of the Formulation
6. Spiritual and Cultural Aspects of the Formulation
7. The Process of Case Formulation and Considerations for Preschoolers
8. Case Formulation for School-Age Children
9. Case Formulation for Adolescents
10. Communicating the Case Formulation and Its Treatment Implications
11. Using the Formulation to Inform the Treatment Plan
12. Formulation Challenges and the Need to Monitor Progress