Functional Analysis in Behaviour Therapy

The functional aspect of psychiatric disorders is an integral part of all behavioural therapy approaches. However, these approaches vary considerably regarding the aspects to be put in the focus of functional analysis. Particularly the teleological view on symptoms, i.e. the instrumental function of problematic behaviour, has proven to be helpful for the understanding and modification of symptoms. The present publication gives an overview of functional analysis in the tradition of cognitive behavioural treatment as well as in new approaches representing the so-called Third Wave of behavioural therapy. Furthermore, different interventions are described for the identification of functional relationships to be applied in the psychotherapeutic process.