Table 11.
Case Study Evaluation-tool (CaSE) checklist for essential components in systematic case studies. Recommended responses: Yes, No, unclear or not applicable
| Methodology | |
| 1. The rationale behind choosing the case study method | |
| 2. Description of research design and aims | |
| 3. Description of research participants, including: | |
| 3a. Patients/clients | |
| 3b. Therapists, clinical supervisors | |
| 3c. Researchers/data analysts (research team) | |
| 4. Description of research procedures, including: | |
| 4a. Evaluation of existing literature and research | |
| 4b. Data collection methods | |
| 4c. Data analysis methods | |
| 4d. Data triangulation procedures | |
| 4e. Research appraisal tools and instruments | |
| 5. Description of researchers’ reflexivity (awareness of the relationship between the researcher and research study), including: | |
| 5a. Research assumptions pertaining to objectives | |
| 5b. Research biases pertaining to data analysis | |
| 5c. Differentiation between assumptions and views made by different researchers/therapists | |
| 6. Description of research limitations, including: | |
| 6a. Congruity between research data and research aims and objectives | |
| 6b. Research appraisal and validity | |
| 7. Relevant ethical information, including: | |
| 7a. Patient’s informed consent | |
| 7b. Anonymisation of specific clinical material | |
| Clinical components | |
| 8. Description of patient’s history, including: | |
| 8a. Demographics | |
| 8b. Cultural context | |
| 8c. Socio-economic context | |
| 8d. Interpersonal history (family and other relationships) | |
| 9. Description of patient’s clinical condition, including: | |
| 9a. Current and past diagnosis (with reference to DSM, ICD and other diagnostic manuals) | |
| 9b. Current and past symptoms and experiences | |
| 9c. Previously received treatment | |
| 9d. The use of medication | |
| 10. Description of patient’s problems through: | |
| 10a. Diagnostic tools (therapist’s assessment) | |
| 10b. Self–report questionnaires (patient’s self–assessment) | |
| 11. Description of course of therapy and treatment, including: | |
| 11a. Therapeutic modality | |
| 11b. Therapeutic setting (number of sessions, frequency, private/public practice) | |
| 11c. Therapeutic relationship | |
| 11d. Timeline of relevant treatment events/sessions | |
| 11e. Follow-up information | |
| 11f. Treatment outcomes | |
| 11g. Complicating factors | |
| 12. Description of clinical decision–making and reflexivity (awareness of the relationship between the therapist and the treatment process), including: | |
| 12a. Clinical assumptions pertaining to diagnosis | |
| 12b. Clinical biases pertaining to therapeutic techniques and interpretations (especially in relation to therapist’s therapeutic modality) | |
| 13. Description of therapist where relevant, including: | |
| 13a. Professional experience | |
| 13b. Demographics | |
| 13c. Cultural context | |
| 13d. Socio-economic context | |
| Theory | |
| 14. Clear description of theoretical references and key concepts | |
| 15. Description of how clinical decision–making relates to the chosen theoretical framework | |
| 16. Clear statement of theoretical findings | |
| 17. Clear description of evidence for and limitations of the chosen theoretical framework, including: | |
| 17a. Validity (does the case study attend its research objectives and aims sufficiently? Do researchers use relevant theoretical concepts, clinical techniques and research methods?) | |
| 17b. Reliability (does the case study provide sufficient, detailed and reflexive information on how it arrived at its findings?) | |
| 18. Description of transferability of findings (relevance to other cases), including: | |
| 18a. Transferability to psychotherapy research | |
| 18b. Transferability to psychotherapy practice | |
| 18c. Relevance to policy in private and/or public healthcare | |
| 18d. Relevance to specific clinical population and setting |