Which term refers to predictable mental shortcuts or errors in thinking that can lead clinicians to incorrect judgments or decisions?

• A. Cognitive heuristics
• B. Cognitive biases
• C. Clinical protocols
• D. Diagnostic rules

Answer: (B)

Cognitive biases are predictable errors in thinking that can sway clinical judgments. Our brains use mental shortcuts, or heuristics, to process information quickly, which is helpful most of the time but can bias decisions when data are incomplete or ambiguous. In practice, biases can show up as clinging to an initial impression, favoring information that confirms what we expect, or letting memorable cases loom larger than their actual probability. Recognizing these biases helps clinicians check reasoning, seek second opinions, and consider alternative diagnoses. The term cognitive biases best fits the description because it explicitly denotes the systematic errors that can arise from these shortcuts, whereas cognitive heuristics describe the shortcuts themselves without necessarily implying an error, and clinical protocols or diagnostic rules refer to formal procedures rather than cognitive errors.