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Two Minds, One Patient: Clearing up Confusion About "Ambivalence".

Publication ,  Journal Article
Moore, B; Nelson, RH; Ubel, PA; Blumenthal-Barby, J
Published in: The American journal of bioethics : AJOB
June 2022

Patients who experience difficulty making medical decisions are often referred to as "ambivalent." However, the current lack of attention to the nuances between a cluster of phenomena that resemble ambivalence means that we are not always recognizing what is really going on with a patient. Importantly, different kinds of "ambivalence" may call for different approaches. In this paper, we present a taxonomy of ambivalence-related phenomena, provide normative analysis of some of the effects of-and common responses to-such mental states, and sketch some practical strategies for addressing ambivalence. In applying lessons from the philosophical literature and decision theory, our aim is to provide ethicists and clinicians with the tools to better understand and effectively intervene in cases of ambivalence.

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Published In

The American journal of bioethics : AJOB

DOI

EISSN

1536-0075

ISSN

1526-5161

Publication Date

June 2022

Volume

22

Issue

6

Start / End Page

37 / 47

Related Subject Headings

  • Humans
  • Decision Making
  • Applied Ethics
  • 5001 Applied ethics
  • 4206 Public health
  • 2201 Applied Ethics
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Moore, B., Nelson, R. H., Ubel, P. A., & Blumenthal-Barby, J. (2022). Two Minds, One Patient: Clearing up Confusion About "Ambivalence". The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB, 22(6), 37–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2021.1887965
Moore, Bryanna, Ryan H. Nelson, Peter A. Ubel, and Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby. “Two Minds, One Patient: Clearing up Confusion About "Ambivalence".The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB 22, no. 6 (June 2022): 37–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2021.1887965.
Moore B, Nelson RH, Ubel PA, Blumenthal-Barby J. Two Minds, One Patient: Clearing up Confusion About "Ambivalence". The American journal of bioethics : AJOB. 2022 Jun;22(6):37–47.
Moore, Bryanna, et al. “Two Minds, One Patient: Clearing up Confusion About "Ambivalence".The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB, vol. 22, no. 6, June 2022, pp. 37–47. Epmc, doi:10.1080/15265161.2021.1887965.
Moore B, Nelson RH, Ubel PA, Blumenthal-Barby J. Two Minds, One Patient: Clearing up Confusion About "Ambivalence". The American journal of bioethics : AJOB. 2022 Jun;22(6):37–47.

Published In

The American journal of bioethics : AJOB

DOI

EISSN

1536-0075

ISSN

1526-5161

Publication Date

June 2022

Volume

22

Issue

6

Start / End Page

37 / 47

Related Subject Headings

  • Humans
  • Decision Making
  • Applied Ethics
  • 5001 Applied ethics
  • 4206 Public health
  • 2201 Applied Ethics
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services