Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology

Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven J. Lynn, Jeffrey M. Lohr

Guilford Publications, 2003 - Psychology - 474 pages

This book offers a rigorous examination of a variety of therapeutic, assessment, and diagnostic techniques in clinical psychology, focusing on practices that are popular and influential but lack a solid grounding in empirical research. Featuring chapters from leading clinical researchers, the text helps professionals and students evaluate the merits of novel and controversial techniques and differentiate between those that can stand up to scientific scrutiny and those that cannot. Reviewed are widely used therapies for alcoholism, infantile autism, and ADHD; the use of EMDR in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder; herbal remedies for depression and anxiety; suggestive techniques for memory recovery; and self-help models. Other topics covered include issues surrounding psychological expert testimony, the uses and abuses of projective assessment techniques, and unanswered questions about dissociative identity disorder. Offering a balanced, constructive review of available research, each accessibly written chapter concludes with a glossary of key terms.

About the author

Scott O. Lilienfeld, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology at Emory University. He has authored or coauthored approximately 100 articles and book chapters, serves on the editorial boards of several major journals, and is founder and editor of [i]The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice[/i]. Dr. Lilienfeld is past president of the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology and a recipient of the David Shakow Award for Early Career Contributions to Clinical Psychology from Division 12 (Society for Clinical Psychology) of the American Psychological Association.

Steven Jay Lynn, PhD, ABPP (Clinical, Forensic), is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York at Binghamton. A former president of the American Psychological Association's Division 30 (Psychological Hypnosis), he is a recipient of the division's award for distinguished contributions to scientific hypnosis. Dr. Lynn is a fellow of many professional organizations and an advisory editor to a number of professional journals. He is the author of 11 books and more than 200 articles and chapters.

Jeffrey M. Lohr, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at the University of Arkansas/n-/Fayetteville. He has been a licensed psychologist in Arkansas with a part-time independent practice since 1976. Dr. Lohr's research interests focus on anxiety disorders, domestic violence, and the efficacy of psychosocial treatments.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology
• Editors: Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven J. Lynn, Jeffrey M. Lohr
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Guilford Publications, 2003
• ISBN: 1572308281, 9781572308282
• Length: 474 pages
• Subjects: Psychology / Clinical Psychology; Social Science / Social Work