Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology (Hardcover)

~ Scott O. Lilienfeld Phd (Editor), Steven Jay Lynn Phd (Editor), Jeffrey M. Lohr Phd (Editor) "As Bob Dylan wrote, "The times they are a-changin'..." (more)
Key Phrases: commercialized advice, fringe psychotherapies, memory recovery procedures, New York, New Age, American Psychological Association (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a timely response to the widening scientist-practitioner gap characterising the practice of clinical psychology and the seeming erosion of the scientific foundations of this discipline....mental health Practitioners generally would find the book an excellent reference text, and the book additionally points to other resources and initiatives which can guide such practitioners in implementing evidence-based practices."--Metapsychology Online Book Reviews "This text is fascinating and easy to read....Each chapter closes with a clear summary, a brief glossary, and an extensive bibliography, facilitating ease of use. The 40 contributors are mostly academics, but several practitioners are also represented. Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology will be heavily used by mental health professionals and students, and will be very helpful for patients evaluating prospective therapies as well as educated laypersons interested in psychology. Highly recommended for academic, health sciences, and public libraries."--E-Streams -- Review

Review

"As a text for students, this book effectively illustrates the importance of becoming an evidence-based practitioner. It inoculates aspiring clinicians against the bandwagon appeal of 'fashionable' interventions and the seductive claims of pseudoscientific treatment studies."--Allen Rubin, PhD, School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin

"This unique and timely book may avert the advent of the Dark Ages into which the discipline of psychotherapy seems to be heading. By clearly articulating the fundamental differences between 'science' and 'pseudoscience,' it forewarns that anecdotes are not evidence, and demonstrates how to separate fact from conjecture. I cannot think of anyone who would not benefit from a thorough perusal of its contents, but it is particularly essential reading for those conducting any form of counseling or psychotherapy."--Arnold A. Lazarus, PhD, ABPP, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Rutgers University

"At last--a book that pulls no punches, names names, and isn't afraid to portray junk science for what it is. This will be invaluable reading for anyone in the mental health professions and an essential reference for students."--Harrison G. Pope, Jr., MD, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

"This superb volume is an instant classic and one of the most important books published in the last 20 years in psychology or law. These well written and exhaustively documented chapters provide a much needed antidote to the epidemic of pseudoscience that has too often stained the integrity of the mental health and legal systems. Mental health professionals, lawyers and judges should all view these chapters as essential information for basic professional competence."--R. Christopher Barden, PhD, JD, LP, psychologist, attorney, expert witness, legislative consultant; President, National Association for Consumer Protection in Mental Health

"[An] excellent and important book."--APA Review of Books

"...a needed text that would be a valuable asset to student and practitioner alike....Essential reading for any graduate program in clinical psychology dealing with psychotherapy....it is well-priced containing current research on what is and isn't empirically validated. It will make selection of a specific therapeutic procedure a more thoughtful and helpful process."--Child & Family Behavior Therapy

"...a unique addition to the literature and...essential reading for anyone practicing or learning to practice clinical psychology...the information contained within this volume is invaluable for consumers of psychological services."--Psychology Research

"While the contributors offer compelling and balanced criticisms of these techniques on scientific grounds, the true merit of the text is that it takes preliminary steps to understand why pseudoscience exists and persists in the 21st century....I would highly recommend it for practitioners, clinical researchers, and graduate students in clinical psychology, social work, or counseling."--Journal of Psychosomatic Research

"This is clearly a text that should be read by every social worker and social work student. Further, it should be mandated reading for anyone who holds a position in a mental health professional association, state licensing board, or national accrediting body....an important contribution to the mental health knowledge base."--Journal of Social Work Education Online (JSWE)

"...a timely response to the widening scientist-practitioner gap characterising the practice of clinical psychology and the seeming erosion of the scientific foundations of this discipline....mental health Practitioners generally would find the book an excellent reference text, and the book additionally points to other resources and initiatives which can guide such practitioners in implementing evidence-based practices."--Metapsychology Online Book Reviews

"This text is fascinating and easy to read....Each chapter closes with a clear summary, a brief glossary, and an extensive bibliography, facilitating ease of use. The 40 contributors are mostly academics, but several practitioners are also represented. Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology will be heavily used by mental health professionals and students, and will be very helpful for patients evaluating prospective therapies as well as educated laypersons interested in psychology. Highly recommended for academic, health sciences, and public libraries."--E-Streams

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 474 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (December 20, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572308281
• ISBN-13: 978-1572308282
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,406,629 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well researched, balanced, and provocative, January 31, 2003

By	Eric G. Mart (Manchester, NH United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This edited volume contains chapters which provide critical analysis of a variety of important subjects in clinical psychology. Lillienfeld et al take a hard look at general issues such as diagnosis and treatment as well as specific issues including New Age treatments for psychological disorders and tests and personality measures. It also examines other subjects such as controversial interventions for ADHD, trauma and autism. The book will spark a great deal of argument and some outrage, since there are a lot of oxen and sacred cows being gored therein. But it is long past time that the yawning chasm between science and clinical practice was addressed, and this volume does an admirable job. I recommend this book to all thoughtful clinicans, as well as general readers with an interest in clinical psychology.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well written, but may be missing something., December 27, 2006

By	Bookworm - See all my reviews

As a psychologist who is aware of some of the questionable research and clinical practices in psychology I read this book with interest. Many of the chapters were interesting and the criticisms valid. I was disappointed, however, that a book that claims to debunk pseudoscience seemed to have a major blindspot. For example Waschbusch and Hill's chapter examines treatments for ADHD without reference to the controversy that exists about the validity of ADHD as a neurobiological syndrome. There is debate about the unscientific manner in which groups of nonspecifc behaviours are named as syndromes, in the absence of any physical evidence. Discussing treatments for these "disorders" without mentioning this at all seems a glaring oversight in a book that devotes so much attention to issues of diagnosis and assessment and claims to expose pseudosicence. It hardly takes courage or insight to criticise the fringe elements, but what about blatant pseudoscientific practices carried out by mainstream psychologists?

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for People on Both Sides, February 6, 2004

By	Monica Pignotti (Tallahassee, FL, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In the preface, the editors noted that this book will make a lot of people angry, especially proponents of the therapies being critiqued in this book. While this is undoubtedly true for many such proponents, I think it would be a serious mistake for such people to dismiss what is being said in this book. I am one of the top practitioners of Thought Field Therapy and found this book to be of tremendous value and feel gratitude, not anger towards its authors. Having explored many of the controversial, new therapies, I know better than anyone the pitfalls and hazards of drifting into pseudoscience and quite frankly, have repeatedly been dismayed at what I have seen in terms of a complete inability to engage in critical thinking on the part of many people involved in the endless array of "alternative" therapies. Much of the problem, I believe, comes from ignorance of the principles outlined in this book. The list of features of pseudosciences is especially helpful and should be read and carefully considered by all proponents of unconventional approaches. In this way, as Carl Sagan puts it, "deep truths can be winnowed from deep nonsense". This book should be required reading in graduate schools, as well as courses that train people in any of these controversial, new approaches and I intend to incorporate this into what I teach.