Decision-Making, Professional Discipline, and Program Affiliation: Selection of an Inpatient Treatment Alternative

Used a hypothetical case history to examine the clinical decision-making of a group of 75 mental health practioners representing the disciplines of alcohol/drug counseling, nursing, psychiatry, psychology, & social work. The variables of professional discipline, program affiliation, work setting, & influential case history items were studied in relation to clinicians selection of an inpatient treatment alternative. The implications of the findings for multi-disciplinary settings are discussed.