The false hope syndrome: unrealistic expectations of self-change

Realistic and Unrealistic Expectations

DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS considerable interest has developed in the possibility that some of the myocardial damage consequent to coronary occlusion may be averted.' To explore this possibility there is a critical need for techniques capable of testing the hypothesis that a given intervention is capable of protecting ischemic myocardium. Since it has long been appreciated that myocardial ischem...

ASTRALogy: Unrealistic Expectations?

Awell-recognized cause of secondary hypertension is renal artery stenosis (RAS), but uncertainty exists regarding whether it is worthwhile to actively search for this condition. First, the diagnosis of RAS requires either an invasive procedure (digital subtraction angiography [DSA]) or a noninvasive yet costly investigation such as magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or CT angiography (CTA). O...

The price of false beliefs: unrealistic expectations as a contributor to the health care crisis.

patients.”11 Indeed, many preventive interventions have proven benefi t. Yet Hudson et al present the quandary that many patients appear willing to undergo preventive care on the basis of “overly optimistic expectations of the benefi ts of preventive interventions and screening.”10 Are they innumerate or overly optimistic? What about policy makers? What about clinicians? We hope you will share ...

Unrealistic expectations born of defective institutions.

Possible effects of unrealistic expectations of recovery after stroke.

Until recently, the evaluation of medical interventions relied upon measures of morbidity and mortality and clinical tests. However, there is now greater recognition of patients’ subjective points of view in the evaluation of their care (DHSS 1983). Patients and their carers are regarded as vital partners in the decision making process and their role should not be underestimated. The quality of...