Identifying Critical Cues in Mental Health Assessment using Naturalistic Decision-Making Techniques

Decision cues are important components of situation assessment. The identification of seemingly critical cues has proven beneficial to training initiatives in a number of domains (e.g., fire-fighting, aviation, nursing, criminal investigation). Similarly, it is proposed that a critical cue inventory may augment training opportunities in the mental health domain (e.g., developing high-fidelity virtual patients). To date, there has been no formal identification of the cues engaged by Mental Health Practitioners (MHP). This study used the Critical Decision Method to decompose the initial stages of psychological assessment, and elucidate the cues engaged by practicing MHPs. Further, it examined MHPs’ perceptions of diagnosticity (i.e., predictive value) and frequency of use, to identify those cues most critical to assessment. The results reveal that MHPs engage an array of cues, and an inventory of critical cues is presented. Findings may be used to inform training and decision support initiatives in clinical skill acquisition.