Praise for "Critical Thinking in Clinical Practice," Third Edition

"Eileen Gambrill is unparalleled in her ability to describe common flaws and biases in clinical decision making. The result in this revised edition is a steadfast call for change that also acknowledges the demands of practice. A must-read for clinicians and researchers alike."--Elizabeth K. Anthony, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Arizona State University

"This "Third Edition" builds upon the impressive strengths of Gambrill's prior treatments of the topic to support the notion that critical thinking is a "teachable skill" and one essential for contemporary practice in the human services. This book should be the default authority on the topic of critical thinking for human service professionals and would be an excellent textbook."--Bruce A. Thyer, PhD, LCSW, Professor and former Dean, Florida State University College of Social Work

"I was skeptical about how "Critical Thinking in Clinical Practice" could be improved, but Eileen Gambrill has succeeded Her articulation of critical thinking skills for clinical decisions ultimately will benefit the people we serve."--Joanne Yaffe, PhD, ACSW, Associate Professor of Social Work and Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Utah

A balanced and illustrative guide to incorporating critical-thinking values, knowledge, and skills into clinical education and practice

Now in a third edition, "Critical Thinking in Clinical Practice" is written for helping professionals who want to think more clearly about the decisions they make and the context in which they make them. It is a practical volume for clinicians who would like to expand their knowledge of common pitfalls and fallacies in clinical reasoning.

As in earlier editions, this "Third Edition" draws on research related to problem solving and decision making, illustrating the relevance of research findings to everyday clinical practice and policy.

Revised throughout, the new edition includes discussion of: The influence of pharmaceutical companies on the helping professions, including disease mongering--the creation of bogus risks, problems, and needless worriesDifferent kinds of propaganda in the helping professions that compromise informed consentAdditional coverage of classification, pathology, reliance on authority, and hazards in data collectionThe development of decision aids of value to both professionals and clientsThe relative contribution of specific interventions compared to nonspecific factors to positive outcomeFactors related to decision making in multidisciplinary teamsNew developments regarding intuitive and analytic reasoningThe pragmatic theory of fallacies

Designed to enhance the quality of services offered to clients, "Critical Thinking in Clinical Practice, Third Edition" is filled with insightful examples, useful lists, websites, and guidelines, presenting an essential resource for all helping professionals and students in the helping professions.

DDDDDDDDDDDD Effective management logically follows accurate diagnosis. Such logic often is difficult to apply in practice. Absolute diagnostic accuracy may not be possible, particularly in the field of primary care, when management has to be on analyis of symptoms and on knowledge of the individual patient and family. This series follows that on Problems in Practice which was concerned more with diagnosis in the widest sense and this series deals more defini tively with general care and specific treatment of symptoms and diseases. Good management must include knowledge of the nature, course and outcome of the conditions, as well as prominent clinical features and as sessment and investigations, but the emphasis is on what to do best for the patient. Family medical practitioners have particular difficulties and advantages in their work. Because they often work in professional islation in the com munity and deal with relatively small numbers of near-normal patients their experience with the more serious and more rare conditions is restricted. They find it difficult to remain up-to-date with medical advances and even more difficult to decide on the suitability and application of new and rela tively untried methods compared with those that are 'old' and well proven. Their advantages are that because of long-term continuous care for their patients they have come to know them and their families well and are able to become familiar with the more common and less serious diseases of their communities."

Although we have no good definition of 'health', all people have their own ideas of whether they are healthy or not. Based on personal experience and knowledge each person comes to accept that within themselves there is a normal range of feelings and performance, departure from which could be considered abnormal or unhealthy. Despite the many amazing technological advances made over recent decades it cannot be said that access to advanced medical care is the main determining factor in the healthiness or otherwise of a society. Even in these modern times most diseases and health problems are non-curable in the strict sense, and the scope for effective prevention of disease is more limited than some enthusiasts suggest. Individuals must appreciate the limitations of modern medical care and, while seeking to use the care available to best possible effect, accept that the responsibility for trying to prevent major disease rests in their own hands. In this book we have tried to present a balanced and realistic picture of the many factors that must be taken into account if optimum disease prevention and health maintenance are to be achieved. The health of your family is your responsibility. An understanding of what can go wrong, how it can be prevented or how it can best be coped with can only be helpful to you.