title: Thematic Mapping Maps Much Territory But Needs Stronger Evidence-based Coordinates: A Commentary.
abstract: Thematic mapping (TM) is a transtheoretical, transdiagnostic, pattern-focused method of case formulation. It involves systematically gathering a broad range relevant client information, collecting representative behavioral episodes, using inductive and deductive reasoning to identify themes and subthemes that characterize a client's dysfunctional patterns, and then developing a treatment plan to address them. The TM method includes debiasing steps to minimize clinician judgment errors and addresses a client's cultural context. TM was developed in response to several "case misconceptualizations" that the authors contend have created a crisis in the field of case conceptualization. This commentary critiques the case misconceptualizations and the TM method is evaluated. Acknowledging multiple innovations of TM, the commentary recommends a stronger evidence-based focus, and discusses the benefits of theory-guided case formulation, reasons to consider diagnosis in case formulation, and research as a means to resolve case misconceptualizations.
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville.
authors.forename: Tracy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Eells
mesh_terms: D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards