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Forensic case formulations: emerging issues
Abstract
In this concluding chapter, we will comment upon the previous chapters in this volume, review emerging issues in clinical case formulation generally and forensic case formulation specifically, and suggest directions for future research and practice in forensic case formulation. Many issues are common to all forms of case formulation. The issues of reliability and validity have haunted the literature on case formulation for over 30 years. The literature is full of vivid assessments of individual cases and sleight of hand translations of formulations into startling, innovative and counter-intuitive treatments. For example, Wolpe's (1986) assessment of an apparent height phobia revealed that, although the person was fearful when in her apartment in a tall building, her fear was not a fear of heights, but rather a fear of people thinking negatively about her which commonly happened when she was alone in her apartment. Hence, the counter intuitive treatment for this apparent height phobia was not exposure to heights – the clients already had such formulaic treatment and it had failed – rather, her treatment was based on exposure to imagining criticism from other people, a treatment that was highly effective. But such clinical scintillation should not blind us to the presence of the naked emperor in the room. In a series of reviews and empirical studies, Kuyken has repeatedly pointed out that despite the continuing interest in case formulation for many years, despite the recognition of case formulation as a core skill by many different professional organizations, despite over two decades of research into case formulation, the evidence supporting the use of case formulation remains sparse, incomplete and contradictory (Kuyken, 2006). The chapters by Mumma on reliability and Ghaderi on treatment validity show that this parlous state of affairs continues despite calls to action.
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2011
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Book chapter
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Case formulation, Criminals, Criminal psychology, Rehabilitation, Psychology
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Sturmey, P. & McMurran, M. (2011). Forensic case formulations: emerging issues. In: Sturmey, P. & McMurran, M. (eds.) Forensic case formulation. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, pp. 283-304.
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Available in the Library: https://nottshc.koha-ptfs.co.uk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl?idx=&q=%22Forensic+case+formulation%22&branch_group_limit=multibranchlimit-76&weight_search=1