Cognitive-Behavioral Case Formulation

The model of CB case formulation presented here has multiple historical origins. The most important is probably functional analysis (Haynes & O’Brien, 2000; Nezu, Nezu, Friedman, & Haynes, 1997), which itself has origins in operant conditioning theory and the tradition in psychology of the study of the single organism (Morgan & Morgan, 2001). We also rely heavily on the evidence-based formulations for particular disorders and symptoms that have been developed over the last 50 years by CB theorists. We also rely on the theories that underpin those disorder formulations, especially Beck’s cognitive theory, learning theories (e.g., theories of associative learning, operant conditioning, and modeling), and theories of emotion (Lang, 1979). We also borrow from methods for formulating the case developed by other CB therapists (Beck, 1995; Koerner, Chapter 11, this