The mental health professions have been slower than most to reject scientifically
questionable methods of diagnosis, treatment, and explanation. This trend
has had unfortunate consequences. There is a widespread public misperception—shared
by many nonpsychiatric physicians—that most mental health treatment
is "flaky" and unscientific.
Organizations of mental health professionals have been reluctant to
respond by publicly differentiating scientifically supported treatments from
quackery. Individuals with readily treatable psychiatric disorders continue
to be diverted into treatments of dubious value. Finally, the civil and criminal
justice systems are often misguided by "experts" purveying questionable theories
of the etiology of mental disorders.