Clinical Intuition in Mental Health Care - Essay Example

The method used in this research was appropriate and informative. Quantitative data dominated qualitative data and was critically analyzed and evaluated after its collection. The researchers met psychotherapists in an in-service training where they raised the issue of clinical intuition. Participants were given questionnaires to fill in 10 minutes. The psychotherapists were 20 in number, 17 female and 2 men. One of the twenty did not give consent to the use of his or her answers in the questionnaire. This questionnaire had 3 questions relating to their view on clinical intuition, the role of clinical intuition in their diagnostic process, and how they used their intuition.

Another questionnaire (Diagnostic Decision Making (DDM) questionnaire) was included. It contained 18 scenarios about intuition and DSM use. Here, participants were asked to show their use of intuition and DSM on a range of between 1 (never) to 5 (always). A focus-group interview was afterward conducted. The group was divided into two. Each group had a discussion leader to moderate and control the discussion which was audiotaped. After one hour and fifteen minutes, the two groups were rejoined. Conclusions were drawn out and summarized (Witteman, Spaanjaars, and Aarts 4).

Results
Though not significantly, participants scored lower in on Intuition than on Self-monitoring, 19.47 (SD = 2.63) versus M = 22.21 (SD = 3.17). DSM use was in between, M = 21.42 (SD = 3.42). The subscales identified different decision-making styles by clinicians and also that they could self-assess their use of intuition. The answers to the open question (What is clinical intuition?) were dominated by the word ‘feelings’ and additions such as experience and textbook knowledge. Intuition was therefore defined by the participants as a combination of how a patient makes one feel and verifiable data. The question about when intuition plays a role was answered by: at first sight, during uncertainties, and always. Always means both during diagnosis and in treatment. In the focus group, it was concluded that intuition is considerably less often used in behavior therapy compared to client-centered therapy where it is popular. On how intuition is used, the research found that the participants discussed their intuitions with colleges during group supervision sessions. The participants also communicated their gut feelings with their patients or clients to seek their opinion. They then combined intuitions with other information before making final clinical decisions (Witteman, Spaanjaars, and Aarts 4-5).

Conclusions
The study concludes that practitioners can make their use of intuition explicit. The study also identifies that intuition can be learned. All but one participant agreed that intuition can be learned more so in practice than in college, and through supervision in client-centered training. One can learn how to use intuition properly by incorporating its risks and merits. Intuition should be trusted when complimenting information and consultations with both supervisors and clients (Witteman, Spaanjaars, and Aarts 7). For verification of the myth about the use of intuition, there is a need for intuitions, which are naturally used implicitly, to be made explicit.

This is important in order to change intuition to be a worthwhile, knowledge-based, decision-making platform trainable to novices. This would help them make more expert-like judgments in their clinical practice. The finding of the research does not imply that expert judgment and intuition are better than evidence-based decision-making criteria. However, the research shows that intuition, besides being unavoidable, is considerably used in practice and should complement evidence-based decision-making criteria. There is a need to demystify the above myth since the research shows that intuitions can be made explicit in order to equip novices with skills closely as perfect as those of experts. Read More