For approved medicine, money counts. One of the limitations of modern-day treatments are the laborious and expensive barriers that stand in the way of FDA approval of new drugs. Patients want options. Despite the lack of scientific evidence and approval of the traditional medical community, the public has literally spent billions pursuing alternative medicines. Not all alternative treatments are created equal.
Some alternative treatments involve completely unproven methods with no theoretic or face validity.
As a psychologist, you cannot recommend, suggest or in any way imply that a patient should participate in alternative medicine in general or in an alternative medicine specifically. You can, however, educate your patient, explain statistical information and research design skills, and coach them in decision-making processes. Consult your lawyer for the appropriate language that you can and cannot use. Y Sandra Haber, PhD, is a private practitioner in New York City and is president of APA Div. Cover Page for This Issue APA Home Page .