Expert reasoning in psychotherapy case formulation.

Therapist reasoning in case formulation construction was investigated. Sixty-five psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral therapists classified as experts, experienced, or novices generated "think aloud" formulations based on six standardized vignettes. Formulations were reliably transcribed, segmented into idea units, and content coded.

The quality of psychotherapy case formulations: a comparison of expert, experienced, and novice cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic therapists.

Sixty-five expert, experienced, and novice cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic psychotherapists provided "think aloud" case formulations in response to 6 standardized patient vignettes varying in disorder and prototypicality. The 390 formulations were reliably transcribed, segmented into idea units, content coded, and rated on multiple dimensions of quality. As hypothesized, the formulations of experts were more comprehensive, elaborated, complex, and systematic.