title: The psychodynamic formulation. How and why.
abstract: Medical students and psychiatric residents are often required to write psychodynamic formulations. Guidelines are given to accomplish this task, which include consideration of the precipitating event and the needs that are stimulated by it. Next, the regulating and mediating functions of the mind are discussed along with predisposing factors. Two clinical cases are presented and sample formulations are given. Finally, the author relates the psychodynamic understanding to the overall treatment of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Southwestern Medical School, University of Texas, Health Science Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Melchiode
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011573:Psychoanalytic Interpretation; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors