Review of "Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology (2nd ed.)," edited by Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven J. Lynn, and Jeffrey M. Lohr

Abstract

Eds.). (2015). Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford, 548 pp.In this second, critically important review of research on unsupported, pseudoscientific clinical psychology practices, no single practice for adults is spared, such as: clinical judgment, assessment techniques, expert testimony, dissociative identity disorder, so-called evidence-based treatments, new age and novel unsupported practices, memory recovery techniques, self-help therapy, trauma-related stress and alcohol use disorders, and antidepressant medication.Chapters that are specifically relevant to couples and family therapists cover attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, attachment therapies, and antisocial behavior in children and adolescents.In three out of six final constructive remedies, the editors hope that the American Psychological Association (APA), among other professional organizations, will take concrete steps to limit and prohibit irresponsible and sometimes reprehensible therapeutic practices. Unfortunately, this reviewer is skeptical about those three possibilities. Asking the APA to completely revert itself is like asking the foxes to improve looking after their chicken coops. The last thing professional associations want to do is to alienate their memberships. Therefore, they have allowed questionable practices to assume legitimate status in spite of the absence of research-based evidence.This contribution is an entire and full indictment of the whole clinical psychology profession including its training practices. It supports the contention that most clinical psychology and mental health therapeutic practices are steeped in art rather than science, reinforcing the argument that the line between art and charlatanry is very thin indeed (L'Abate, 2013(L'Abate, , 2015.To say that this contribution should be in the hands of all clinical psychologists is questionable because most clinical psychologists practicing as psychotherapists will willfully avoid reading it. Nonetheless, it should be required reading in internship training programs and in the hands of examining diplomate boards.