Negative treatment effects: is it time for a black box warning?

Abstract

Comments on Negative effects from psychological treatments: A perspective by David Barlow (see record 2009-24989-002). The author addresses negative treatment effects in the psychotherapy field by stating that Barlow provided a historical perspective of clinical psychology's long-standing interest in studying the positive effects of psychotherapy, and he indicated that although negative treatment effects have long been identified, little attention has been paid to them. Barlow also recommended a greater emphasis on more idiographic approaches to studying negative effects. He further added that "this would be best carried out in the context of a strong collaboration among frontline clinicians and clinical scientists". I would argue that this may best be carried out between frontline clinicians and their clients. So the science that we use may not be clinical mandates prohibiting, for example, certain treatments but may simply be the sharing of our scientific knowledge about clinical possibilities so as to better inform clients about the treatment they are considering.