Available: 01/10/22, Expires: 03/01/24
People who experience health problems that prove refractory to treatment or symptom alleviation often turn to non-standard or alternative approaches expounded by charismatic experts. Not infrequently, such approaches prove ineffective or even harmful. Ongoing project studying "Psychoquackery" (i.e., ineffective, discredited, or harmful techniques offered as treatment for mental illness) and developing a book for the general public on the topic. The project involves identifying, exploring, and documenting non-pharmacologic non-religious or spiritual approaches to assessing and treating psychological problems. This includes understanding the origins and promoters of the approaches and techniques, historical and current use, and calling public attention to the associated problems. An interested student could assist by focusing on one or more such treatment approaches (or conditions that may make patients susceptible to such quack treatments) and assist in developing a publishable report on that topic. A background in mental health care or undergraduate study in psychology would prove a valuable skill. Sample publications: Norcross, J. C., Koocher, G. P., & Garofalo, G. P. (2006) Discredited Psychological Treatments and Tests: A Delphi Poll. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 37, 515-522. doi: 10.1037/0735-7028.37.5.515 Koocher, G. P., Norcross, J. C., McMann, M., & Stout, A. (2015). Consensus on Discredited Assessment and Treatment Techniques used with Children and Adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 44, 722-729. DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2014.895941 Koocher, G. P. & Gill, E. (2016). Pet Me, Sniff Me, Squeeze Me: Quack Treatment for Autism. In R. M. Foxx & J. Mulick, J. (Eds.) Controversial Therapies for Developmental Disabilities (2nd Ed.). Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis, pp 347-356.