Backward Thinking is the least frequent type of thinking physicians use in clinical decision making. Unlike Forward Thinking, Backward Thinking starts with several possible diagnoses (and in some rare cases - management); symptoms/test results are then analysed to see if they fit with the diagnosis. The television show House has numerous examples of this type of reasoning. Backward thinking is useful in the following situations:

1. An unusual presentation
2. A previously unseen illness
3. A medical student who doesn't have sufficient experience.

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