Psychological Science in the
Public Interest(PSPI)
Volume 9, Number 2
PSPI is a journal of the Association for Psychological Science
Editorial: Connecting Clinical Practice to Scientific Progress
Walter Mischel
Current Status and Future Prospects of Clinical Psychology
Toward a Scientifically Principled Approach to Mental and Behavioral Health Care
Timothy B. Baker, Richard M. McFall, and Varda Shoham
Current Status and Future
Prospects of Clinical Psychology
Toward a Scientifically Principled Approach to Mental and
Behavioral Health Care
Timothy B. Baker, Richard M. McFall, and Varda Shoham
Over the past 20 years, the prevalence of mental health disorders has nearly doubled in the United States. Yet despite the number of empirically supported treatments now available for a variety of disorders, most clinical psychologists and therapists elect not to use them or rely on out-of-date procedures. Some of these clinicians, coming out of training programs that did not use or teach these scientifically supported methods, may not even be aware of how effective such treatments can be.
Training programs vetted by the new Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) will emphasize high-quality, rigorous, and science-based training to ensure that mental health care consumers will consistently receive empirically-proven treatments.
For their part, many patients with mental health problems do not even seek help from psychologists; mental health treatment has become so expensive that many patients bypass this route completely, instead seeking out treatment from medical doctors who are covered by their insurance. There, the patients will, in all likelihood, just receive a prescription for a pharmaceutical, when they may actually get better results from a treatment program that incorporates behavioral therapy, managed by a clinical psychologist.
The APS alert and the Appendix to this paper refer only to mental health outcomes - that is, psychiatrically diagnostic end-points of behavioral therapies, presumably including cognitive, social, educational and other evidence-based verbal interventions. Should not physical health be equally prominent? The authors' research and professional experience include end points in bodily diseases, such as cancer and physical sequelae of substance uses, including food. Does the Training include scientifically evaluated interventions on behavior in cardiac rehabilitation, pain and mobility dysfunction, type 2 diabetes, cancer prevention and treatment, and indeed obesity?
Comment by David Booth on October 12, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Excellent! All gears towards a true psychological science based on the integration of molecular biology-genetics, cognitive neurosciences, neuroimaging, to our more classical knowledge of proven psychotherapy techniques and clinical psychology doctoral curriculum. A perfect way not only to institutionalize psychology as a true science which it is but also to differentiate ourselves from the invading charlatans sprouting from the weirdest of schools or self-proclaimed healers. Thank you Dr.Baker and all! Regards, Dominique Brunet, PhD, clinical psychology 1974 UGA.
Comment by Dominique Brunet on November 05, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Isn't it interesting that this article is by Ph.D.s and not Psy.D.s? Instead of bashing Psy.D.s as a whole in the public arena when you obviously don't know the latest research, for example regarding the best approaches to treating PTSD, why don't you conduct research on the percentage of other professions using our mesaures for their own benefit and to shut psychology as a whole?
Comment by marie on November 16, 2009 at 8:56 AM
While I agree entirely with research-based practice - my Ph.D. dissertation is in evaluation research methods and policy research utilization - I am troubled by the increasing medicalization of psychology. In my clinical practice, I try to keep the "psyche" in psychology, and it saddens me to see pharmaceuticals being used in place of insight-based practice. Substances such as SSRIs should be used on a short-term basis, not as a life-long alternative to introspection and analysis. I am a proponent of the clinical research on psychedelics, powerful chemicals used temporarily to bring the patient into contact with their deepest self. I hope that as we move from the dehumanization of modernity, through the deconstruction of post-modernity, into an integral society, we will find research-based ways to nurture and manifest the difficult to locate, but nonetheless real part of us we refer to as the soul.
Comment by Neal M. Goldsmith Ph. D. on November 16, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Anything that could be done to get rid of the for-profit PsyD program that are accepting sub-par students and churning out graduates at an embarassing rate would be wonderful. The current state of PsyD programs is producing a glut of poorly trained "clinicians" and is seriously reducing the credibility of well-trained clinical psychologists.
Comment by Mary on November 17, 2009 at 8:39 AM
I agree that doctoral psychology programs must be held accountable for producing compentent psychologists. All psychologists must be able to read ,understand and use science. But I suggest that you protect your movement from the bigoted witch hunter types who are always ready to find an outgroup on whom to pounce. If the issue in competence ,then let's measure it ,and demand that psych programs meet that measure. Let's not attack an entire class of people, such as Psy.D. graduates.
Comment by Roald Garcia Psy. D. on November 17, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Has past research on the variables of empathy, warmth, and genuiness affecting mood positively been disproven?
Comment by V.S., Ph.D. on November 17, 2009 at 5:24 PM