title: Diagnostic reasoning and treatment planning: I. Diagnosis.
abstract: Information-processing research into the natural process of clinical reasoning is reviewed and the University of Vermont diagnostic reasoning research project is described. Experienced psychiatric diagnosticians use a hypothetico-deductive logic. The development of a profile of diagnostic competencies is outlined and a course in diagnostic reasoning for medical students, which specifically objectified the tactics and strategy of reasoning and resulted in a significant improvement in the profile of competencies, is described. Finally, the organisation of a diagnostic formulation is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02915.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nurcombe
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fitzhenry-Coor
mesh_terms: D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000639:trends; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education