James B. (Jim) Gottstein, Esq.; Peter
C. Gøtzsche, MD;
David Cohen, PhD; Chuck Ruby, PhD; Faith Myers
September 18, 2023
Psychotherapy is often overlooked, or even dismissed, as an effective approach for
people diagnosed with serious mental illness, but much of what works in the approaches
discussed above could be considered psychotherapy in a broad sense, and good
psychotherapy is provided in a way that is consistent with these voluntary, relationship-
based approaches. As set forth above, Dr. Mosher testified as a qualified expert witness in
the Myers case, that "in the field of psychiatry, it is the therapeutic relationship which is the
single most important thing."(109)
Many patients desire psychotherapy and it has been shown to be very effective.(110) The
1966–1971 Michigan Psychotherapy Project found that psychotherapy was significantly
more effective than neuroleptic treatment for people diagnosed with schizophrenia.(111)
Studies with long-term follow-up show that psychotherapy has an enduring effect that
outperforms psychiatric drugs.(112)
108 “Peer Run Crisis Alternatives: Community Response Teams” (video) by Cherene Caraco, 16 Jun 2021, from the CAFE TAC Peer-Run Crisis Alternatives Webinar Series. These are really worth watching.
109 In the Matter of F.M. Transcript of proceedings (March 5 and March 10, 2003), p. 177. Anchorage Superior Court, Case No. 3AN-02-00277 CI; See also Duncan, Barry L. (2015). “The Person of the Therapist: One Therapist’s Journey to Relationship.” In Kirk J. Schneider, J. Fraser Pierson, & James F. T. Bugental (eds.), The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology: Theory, Research, and Practice, 2nd ed., pp. 457–472. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
110 Gøtzsche, Peter C. (22 Dec 2022). “Psychotherapy: Less Expensive and Better Than Pills, it’s What the Patients Want But Don’t Get.” Mad in America; Irwin, Matt. (Jan 2004). “Treatment of Schizophrenia Without Neuroleptics: Psychosocial Interventions Versus Neuroleptic Treatment.” Ethical Human Sciences and Services 6(2): 99–110.
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111 Karon, Bertram P.; & VandenBos, Gary R. (1972). “The Consequences of Psychotherapy for Schizophrenic Patients.” Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice 9(2): 111-119; Karon, Bertram P.; & VandenBos, Gary R. (1981). Psychotherapy of Schizophrenia: The Treatment of Choice. New York: Roman & Littlefield; Morrison, Anthony P, et al. (2014). “Cognitive Therapy for People With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Not Taking Antipsychotic Drugs: A Single-Blind Randomised Controlled Trial.” The Lancet 383(9926): 1395–1403.
112 Cuijpers, Pim, et al. (2013). “Does Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Have an Enduring Effect That is Superior to Keeping Patients on Continuation Pharmacotherapy? A Meta-Analysis.” BMJ Open 3(4): e002542; Shedler, Jonathan. (2010). “The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.” American Psychologist 65(2): 98-109; Bighelli, Irene, et al. (2021). “Psychosocial and Psychological Interventions for Relapse Prevention in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.” The Lancet Psychiatry 8(11): 969–980.
https://psychrights.org/ReportOnImprovingMentalHealthOutcomes.pdf