Editorial: It's Difficult To Make Predictions, Especially About the Future: Risk Calculators Come of Age in Child Psychiatry

Abstract

A quote attributed to many people, from the Nobel prize-winning Quantum physicist Niels Bohr to legendary baseball player (and philosopher) Yogi Berra states: "It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future." As though any other prediction would matter; but this is exactly what parents want when they bring their child to the doctor for any concern, ranging from a bump or bruise to whether the child has bipolar disorder. They want the doctor to use both the science and art of medicine to answer key questions: What is wrong with my child? What tests or workup is needed to figure this out? What is the best treatment for this problem? Will my child get better?