Reliability and validation of a behavioral model of clinical behavioral formulation

The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and content and predictive validity of a clinical case formulation, developed from a behavioral perspective. A mixed design integrating levels of descriptive analysis and A-B case study with follow-up was used. The study established the reliability of the following descriptive and explanatory categories: (a) problem description, (b) predisposing factors, (c) precipitating factors, (d) acquisition and (e) inferred mechanism (maintenance). The analysis was performed on cases from 2005 to 2008 formulated with the model derived from the current study. With regards to validity, expert judges considered that the model had content validity. The predictive validity was established across application of model to three case studies. Discussion shows the importance of extending the investigation with the model in other populations and to establish the clinical and concurrent validity of the model.