An exploration of acceptability of a collaboratively developed model of formulation
4 affiliations
- 1School of Psychology and Sport Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- 2University Counselling Service, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- 3Cambridge Public Health Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- 4Health Innovation East, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Abstract
Collaborative, recovery-oriented psychological interventions are in demand within mental health settings, but layers of barriers can impede their implementation, particularly within acute services. Psychological formulation is a recovery-oriented, collaborative process involving the development of a shared understanding of a service user’s mental health difficulties. Psychological formulation has the potential to support a shift away from the embedded medical model; however, few, if any, frameworks have involved service users at the development stage. This study examines the acceptability of a collaboratively developed model of psychological formulation, piloted with staff within a specialist inpatient setting as well as a wider sample of individuals involved in delivering or receiving mental health services. A theory-driven and collaboratively developed psychological formulation model was developed (the ‘Personal Narrative Model’) and acceptability was evaluated with (1) acute inpatient staff working on an adult ward, and (2) a wider sample of professionals and individuals with lived experience. A focus group (n = 7), surveys (n = 26), and interviews were conducted (n = 8) and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The formulation model demonstrated promising acceptability although it was not meaningfully implemented within the acute setting. Three overarching themes are presented from the data: 1) the value of collaborative formulation, 2) implementation barriers, and 3) ‘selling’ and embedding change. Although there is an appetite for more contextualised ways of viewing and supporting mental health, underlying practical, cultural, and attitudinal barriers exist. Practical recommendations are shared for future researchers or practitioners seeking to embed psychological interventions within their applied settings.
Related
- Artificial intelligence-driven identification and mechanistic exploration of synergistic anti-aging compounds from Dengzhan Shengmai formulation
- Current status and future prospects of biodegradable magnesium-based implants developed for orthopaedic applications
- Podocytic Infolding Gromerulopathy Developed at the Time of Transition from Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia to Myelodysplastic Syndrome
- Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy Aiding the Exclusion of Cardiac Sarcoidosis in a Patient with Duodenal Neuroendocrine Tumor who Developed Complete Atrioventricular Block
- Atypical Anorexia Nervosa Developed in a Patient with Severe Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Following Sleeve Gastrectomy and Postoperative Treatment with Semaglutide and Tirzepatide
BibTeX
@article{pringle2026exploration,
title = {{An exploration of acceptability of a collaboratively developed model of formulation}},
author = {Aneita Pringle and Jonathan Totman and Tine Van Bortel and Emma Kaminskiy},
journal = {PLOS Mental Health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pmen.0000718},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000718},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - An exploration of acceptability of a collaboratively developed model of formulation
AU - Aneita Pringle
AU - Jonathan Totman
AU - Tine Van Bortel
AU - Emma Kaminskiy
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/25
JO - PLOS Mental Health
DO - 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000718
UR - https://journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000718
AB - Collaborative, recovery-oriented psychological interventions are in demand within mental health settings, but layers of barriers can impede their implementation, particularly within acute services. Psychological formulation is a recovery-oriented, collaborative process involving the development of a shared understanding of a service user’s mental health difficulties. Psychological formulation has the potential to support a shift away from the embedded medical model; however, few, if any, frameworks have involved service users at the development stage. This study examines the acceptability of a collaboratively developed model of psychological formulation, piloted with staff within a specialist inpatient setting as well as a wider sample of individuals involved in delivering or receiving mental health services. A theory-driven and collaboratively developed psychological formulation model was developed (the ‘Personal Narrative Model’) and acceptability was evaluated with (1) acute inpatient staff working on an adult ward, and (2) a wider sample of professionals and individuals with lived experience. A focus group (n = 7), surveys (n = 26), and interviews were conducted (n = 8) and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The formulation model demonstrated promising acceptability although it was not meaningfully implemented within the acute setting. Three overarching themes are presented from the data: 1) the value of collaborative formulation, 2) implementation barriers, and 3) ‘selling’ and embedding change. Although there is an appetite for more contextualised ways of viewing and supporting mental health, underlying practical, cultural, and attitudinal barriers exist. Practical recommendations are shared for future researchers or practitioners seeking to embed psychological interventions within their applied settings.
SN - 2837-8156
ER -