Perhaps you can see how I might answer this based on my preceding comments. Essentially I would argue strongly for multiplicity. Any singular view of diagnostics, therapy, or positive outcomes tends toward totalitarianism. It constructs the world in only one way, thus suppressing the multiplicitous traditions of the world. For example, once you have begun to tally the number of depressed patients, or the effects of Prozac on depression you have already accepted the biases of a particular sub-culture.
Depression is a way of constructing the world, and it is only one way in a world of rich potentials.
In effect, the research already presumes a worldview - an ontology and an ethics. I am not arguing against accountability here. What I am proposing is that insofar as possible, the therapeutic community moves toward mutually respectful, dialogic processes in determining decisions. It is within this context that the strongest hope lies for a profession that can add substantially to the distinctly human resources of the world. Kenneth Gergen is Professor of Psychology at Swarthmore College.