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Clinical judgment and decision making
1Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas 78236-5300, USA. howard.garb@lackland.af.mil
Annual Review of Clinical Psychology
|August 25, 2007
Summary
This review examines the accuracy of clinical psychology judgments. It explores methodological advances, clinician cognitive processes, and the validity of mental health professional decisions, discussing findings in clinical judgment and decision-making research.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Clinical psychologists' judgments are crucial for patient care.
- Evaluating the accuracy of these judgments is essential for improving mental health outcomes.
- Existing research presents a complex picture of clinical decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review methodological advances in assessing the validity of personality and psychopathology descriptions.
- To examine recent findings on the cognitive processes employed by clinicians.
- To discuss the validity and utility of judgments and decisions made by mental health professionals.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of methodological advances.
- Synthesis of research on clinician cognitive processes.
- Analysis of studies on the validity of clinical judgments and decision-making.
Main Results:
- Methodological improvements enhance the evaluation of personality and psychopathology assessments.
- Cognitive biases and heuristics can influence clinical judgment.
- The validity of clinical judgments varies, impacting decision utility.
Conclusions:
- Accurate clinical judgment requires rigorous methodology and awareness of cognitive processes.
- Continued research is needed to optimize decision-making in mental health.
- Understanding the factors influencing clinical judgment is key to enhancing patient care.
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