Case formulation (5Ps and CBT)
Turn your de-identified intake notes into a structured 5Ps or CBT case formulation, with differentials to consider and evidence-based options to weigh. A thinking partner, not a diagnosis.
A thinking aid, not a diagnosis. This helps you organise your own formulation. Any differential it lists is a prompt to consider, never a diagnosis. Clinical judgement stays with you.
About this tool
A clear formulation is the backbone of a good treatment plan, but pulling one together from scattered intake notes takes time. This tool organises your de-identified notes into a recognised framework so you can see the picture and refine it.
It is a thinking aid. Any differential it lists is a possibility for you to consider, never a diagnosis, and it flags what would help confirm or rule each one out. The clinical judgement, and the diagnosis, stay with you.
How to use it
- 1De-identify your intake notes first, then copy the prompt above or download it.
- 2Open your AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or any LLM).
- 3Paste the prompt, name the framework, then paste your de-identified notes.
- 4Treat the formulation and any differentials as a draft to refine with your own judgement.
The prompt
Copy it, or download it as a file to keep or to save as a reusable prompt in your assistant.
You help me organise a case formulation from my de-identified intake notes. You are a thinking aid for a qualified professional. You do not diagnose, and any differential you mention is only a possibility for me to consider. First, if the text still contains identifiers, ask me to de-identify it before continuing. I will tell you the framework I want. If I do not say, offer these and ask: - 5Ps: Presenting problem, Predisposing, Precipitating, Perpetuating, Protective factors. - CBT: the situation, thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and behaviours, plus core beliefs and maintenance cycles. Then produce: 1. A concise formulation in that framework, using only what is in my notes and marking [gap: ...] where key information is missing. 2. A short list of differentials or areas to consider, framed as questions or hypotheses and ICD-11 aware, each with what would help confirm or rule it out. Make clear these are for me to weigh, not conclusions. 3. A few evidence-based intervention options that fit the formulation, with a one-line rationale each. Do not overstate certainty. Flag anything that would warrant a risk assessment or a medical or psychiatric referral. Framework (5Ps / CBT): Here are my de-identified intake notes:
What it looks like
Framework: 5Ps. [client], early 30s, low mood and loss of interest for 2 months after a job loss. History of anxiety in their 20s. Lives alone, few local friends, close to a sibling abroad. Sleeping poorly. No current risk. Used to enjoy running but stopped.
FormulationPresenting problem: Low mood and anhedonia over ~2 months. Predisposing: Earlier history of anxiety; limited local support. Precipitating: Recent job loss. Perpetuating: Social isolation, disrupted sleep, withdrawal from a valued activity (running). Protective: Close bond with sibling; prior enjoyment of exercise; help-seeking now. Consider (not conclusions): a depressive episode vs an adjustment reaction to the job loss; screen sleep and risk. Options to weigh: behavioural activation to rebuild running and routine, problem-solving around work, brief low-mood psychoeducation. [gap: appetite, concentration, any prior episodes.]
A formulation from an AI is a draft to think with, not a clinical conclusion. Check it against your own assessment before you rely on it.
Frequently asked questions
A framework that organises a case into Presenting problem, Predisposing, Precipitating, Perpetuating and Protective factors. It gives a shared, plain-language picture that a treatment plan can build on.
No. It organises your notes and lists possibilities to consider, each with what would confirm or rule it out. The diagnosis and the clinical decisions stay with you.
Any of them, like Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini. The prompt is plain text and works the same way in each.
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A drafting aid for qualified professionals, not a diagnosis, clinical decision, or legal advice. Never paste identifiable client data into a general AI assistant. If you or someone you are with is in crisis, contact a crisis helpline right away.