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PRESS RELEASE Amherst, NY, Friday, APRIL 23, 2004 -- Two national organizations for the promotion of science and the protection of public health are joining forces to help stem the tide of unproven and dangerous mental health practices. So-called "therapies" such as "recovered memory therapy", "rebirthing" and "coercive restraint therapies" have injured thousands of Americans. Many such "therapies" have proliferated in the last ten years with little meaningful regulation from licensing boards or professional associations. The public is increasingly at risk from such junk science "treatments." In a joint press release today, the National Association for Consumer Protection in Mental Health Practices (NACPMHP) and the Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health (CSMMH) announced they are merging to form a stronger international force against mental health quackery. The merger will provide CSMMH with greater resources for examining questionable mental health practices that are not based on scientific evidence and for educating consumers about the risks of those practices. CSMMH is an international group of distinguished researchers, academics, and health care practitioners from widely diverse disciplines -- including medicine, psychiatry, psychology, pathology, biochemistry, nutrition, and physics -- who are dedicated to maintaining high standards of quality in medical care and mental health practice. Members of the Commission are a virtual who's who of scientists and clinical practitioners from leading academic and research centers around the world, including five Nobel Laureates. The Commission also publishes two scientific journals, The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine and The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice. "After our 10 years of highly successful operation throughout the United States, it's time to combine efforts and knowledge and thus increase our international effectiveness," said R. Christopher Barden, Ph.D., J.D., a lawyer, psychologist and president of the NACPMHP. "I am so pleased to serve as a Member of the Commission along with several Nobel Laureates, renowned psychiatrists such as Aaron Beck and Paul McHugh and distinguished scientists like Elizabeth Loftus, now a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Together we can and will make a difference by improving the quality of the mental health system." "This merger will greatly benefit the public through expanded programs aimed at informing consumers about the hazards of worthless and dangerous mental health practices," said Andrew Skolnick, CSMMH's executive director. Scott O. Lilienfeld, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and editor of The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice is also enthusiastic over the affiliation. "With this merger, the Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health will become a more effective international champion for quality therapies based on scientific research," he said. CONTACT INFORMATION: Kevin Christopher R. Christopher Barden, Ph.D., J.D. Scott O. Lilienfeld, Ph.D
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