Health psychology and the study of the case: from method to analytic concern

This paper recommends that the study of the case be seen as of primary analytic concern to social scientists, and particularly to health psychologists. Criticism is made of the idea that a case is merely a medical instance or a methodological option. Instead, we argue that health psychologists should re-direct their attention to the ‘study of the case’ as being central to issues concerning health, illness and healing. There are three reasons for doing this. First, case study is basic to any procedure that involves collecting information about the context in which medicine is practised. Second, communication between health professionals involves presenting the clinical situation of their patients as storied accounts, so that cases are made, not found. Third, there is presentational work by patients, involving communications of (as well as about) suffering and relief. This last feature is basic to how doctors and health psychologists, especially those engaged in clinical work, understand individuals as ‘cases’. The paper explores differences between these different forms of case, while emphasising portrayal as a key feature of all of them. In justifying the study of the case on conceptual as well as on clinical and methodological grounds, we highlight the position of health psychology in its attempts both to study and to intervene in health-care contexts.