In the field of clinical human sciences, an '''idiographic image''' is the representation of a result which has been obtained thanks to a study or research method whose subject-matters are specific cases, i.e. a portrayal which avoids nomothetic generalizations.
<blockquote>''Diagnostic formulation'' follows an ''idiographic criterion'', while ''diagnostic classification'' follows a ''nomothetic criterion''.<ref name= Battacchi>Battacchi M.W., (1990), ''Trattato enciclopedico di psicologia dell'età evolutiva'', Piccin, Padova. {{ISBN|88-299-0206-3}}</ref></blockquote>
In the field of psychiatry, psychology and clinical psychopathology, idiographic criterion is a method (also called ''historical method'') which involves evaluating past experiences and selecting and comparing information about a specific individual or event. An example of ''idiographic image'' is a report, diagram or health history showing medical, psychological and pathological features which make the subject under examination unique.
<blockquote>Where there is no prior detailed presentation of clinical data, the summary should present sufficient relevant information to support the diagnostic and aetiological components of the formulation.
The term ''diagnostic formulation'' is preferable to diagnosis, because it emphasises that matters of clinical concern about which the clinician proposes aetiological hypotheses and targets of intervention include much more than just diagnostic category assignment, though this is usually an important component.<ref name=Shields>Shields R., ''Emergency psychiatry. Review of psychiatry''. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 37, 4, 498-499, 2003. {{cite web |url=http://member.melbpc.org.au/~rshields/psychiatricformulation.html |title=Psychiatric Formulation |accessdate=2008-09-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927204432/http://member.melbpc.org.au/~rshields/psychiatricformulation.html |archivedate=2008-09-27 }}</ref></blockquote>
The expression ''idiographic image'' appeared for the first time in 1996 in the SESAMO research method manual.<ref name= Boccadoro_1 >Boccadoro L., (1996) ''SESAMO: Sexuality Evaluation Schedule Assessment Monitoring. Approccio differenziale al profilo idiografico psicosessuale e socioaffettivo''. O.S., Firenze. IT\ICCU\CFI\0327719</ref>
This term was coined to mean that the report of the test provided an anamnestic report containing a family, relational and health history of the subject and providing semiological data regarding both the psychosexual and the social-affective profile. These profiles were useful to the clinician in order to formulate pathogenetic and pathognomonic hypotheses.<ref name= Boccadoro_2 >Boccadoro L., Carulli S., (2008) ''[http://sexology.interfree.it/abstract_english.html The place of the denied love. Sexuality and secret psychopathologies (Abstract English, Spanish, Italian)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722035618/http://sexology.interfree.it/abstract_english.html |date=2011-07-22 }}''. Edizioni Tecnoprint, Ancona. {{ISBN|978-88-95554-03-7}}</ref>
== See also == * Nomothetic and idiographic * Sexological testing
== Bibliography == <references/>
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20180901020203/http://sexology.it/glossario_sessuologia.html Glossario di Sessuologia clinica - Glossary of clinical sexology] {{in lang|it|en}}
Category:Clinical psychology Category:Personality traits Category:Psychiatric assessment