Practice makes perfect and other myths about mental health services

Expenditures for mental health services, as a proportion of health care expenditures, have plummeted in the past decade. Concurrently psychologists have been unable to muster scientific evidence for the effectiveness of typical services. The clinical world failed to collect such evidence while the academic world focused on laboratory studies. Beliefs in the mechanisms thought to assure the quality and effectiveness of typical services may have created complacency. Psychologists seem confident that effective services are assured by (a) more experienced clinicians, (b) degree programs, (c) continuing education, (d) licensing, (e) accreditation, and (f) clinical supervision. After reviewing relevant scientific literature, the author concludes that these are myths with little or no evidence to support them. The author suggests 4 ways to improve the quality and effectiveness of services.