Treatment of an avoidant patient with comorbid psychopathology: a plan analysis perspective

Plan Analysis provides case conceptualization for psychotherapy patients in general and for personality disorders in particular. Plan Analysis emphasizes the instrumental aspect of behavior and emotions by asking what motives or goals do a patient's functioning serve. The authors briefly describe Plan Analysis and then illustrate it with the psychotherapy of Nicole, a young patient with avoidant personality disorder, personality disorder not otherwise specified, and major depression. The case illustrates a flexible procedure, dealing with different topics in parallel, and using techniques from a variety of treatment approaches in a heuristic way.