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The Skeptical Sleuth

Applying a healthy dose of skepticism to new findings about health and psychology.

Depression
Screening Cancer Patients for Distress

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on June 27, 2012

Perhaps quality indicators should register if every cancer patient gets a chance for an unhurried discussion about their unmet needs, but not necessarily with a busy, overcommitted oncologist or oncology nurse specialist.

Perhaps quality indicators should register if every cancer patient gets a chance for an unhurried discussion about their unmet needs, but not necessarily with a busy, overcommitted oncologist or oncology nurse specialist.

Fear
Dissecting a Misleading Abstract

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on May 29, 2012

Abstract puts positive spin on ineffective couple’s intervention for cancer patients.

Abstract puts positive spin on ineffective couple’s intervention for cancer patients.

Bias
Investigating the Accuracy of Abstracts: An Introduction

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on May 4, 2012

An African physician changed an effective perinatal HIV prevention program into an ineffective one based on misleading abstracts obtained from the Internet.

An African physician changed an effective perinatal HIV prevention program into an ineffective one based on misleading abstracts obtained from the Internet.

Positive Psychology
Authors, Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on April 11, 2012

Articles published in high-impact journals regularly escape adequate peer review and may not be based on the best evidence.

Articles published in high-impact journals regularly escape adequate peer review and may not be based on the best evidence.

Psychopharmacology
Faux Evidence-Based Behavioral Medicine Part 2

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on March 27, 2012

Disappointing review of interventions for cancer pain doesn't provide evidence where in treatment psychologists should go or what they should do.

Disappointing review of interventions for cancer pain doesn't provide evidence where in treatment psychologists should go or what they should do.

Leadership
Faux Evidence-Based Behavioral Medicine at Its Worst (Part I)

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on March 20, 2012

Would you hesitate to ask for full control of cancer pain in a loved one with medication based on recommendations that psychosocial (nonpharmacological) interventions were effective?

Would you hesitate to ask for full control of cancer pain in a loved one with medication based on recommendations that psychosocial (nonpharmacological) interventions were effective?

Placebo
Irving Kirsch: Déjà Vu All Over Again?

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on March 8, 2012

Kirsch has been decrying the weak effects of antidepressants and dismissing critics for 15 years.

Kirsch has been decrying the weak effects of antidepressants and dismissing critics for 15 years.

Personality
Is Long-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Worthwhile?

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on January 14, 2012

All of the studies were conducted by advocates of long-term psychodynamic therapy and that makes all the more surprising the uniformity of the negative results. After all, investigator allegiance is typically a stronger predictor of the outcome of a clinical trial evaluating a psychotherapy than the therapy being evaluated.

All of the studies were conducted by advocates of long-term psychodynamic therapy and that makes all the more surprising the uniformity of the negative results. After all, investigator allegiance is typically a stronger predictor of the outcome of a clinical trial evaluating a psychotherapy than the therapy being evaluated.

Placebo
Antidepressant, Talk Therapy Fail to Beat Placebo--Really?

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on January 3, 2012

If all treatments are equal, why not treat depression with sugar pills rather than expensive psychotherapy or medication?

If all treatments are equal, why not treat depression with sugar pills rather than expensive psychotherapy or medication?

Health
More on Review Claiming Abortion Hurts Women's Mental Health

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on November 15, 2011

Why didn’t British Journal of Psychiatry editor catch anti-abortionist author's blatant conflict of interest?

Why didn’t British Journal of Psychiatry editor catch anti-abortionist author's blatant conflict of interest?

Stress
Selling the Myth of a National Mental Health Crisis After 9/11/2001

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on October 17, 2011

Millions of dollars became available from federal, state, and local sources for mental health services and wild claims about widespread posttraumatic stress helped keep the money coming.

Millions of dollars became available from federal, state, and local sources for mental health services and wild claims about widespread posttraumatic stress helped keep the money coming.

Stress
Was There a US Epidemic of Heart Problems After 9/11/2001?

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on September 9, 2011

Given the mental health risk they were supposedly facing, should people have turned off their televisions off on 9/11/2001, and immediately gone to see a professional?

Given the mental health risk they were supposedly facing, should people have turned off their televisions off on 9/11/2001, and immediately gone to see a professional?

Health
After 9/11: The Mental Health Crisis That Never Came

James C. Coyne Ph.D. on September 6, 2011

Best evidence shows it is a myth that the events of 9/11/2001 inflicted a collective psychological trauma on the American people with long-lasting effects.

Best evidence shows it is a myth that the events of 9/11/2001 inflicted a collective psychological trauma on the American people with long-lasting effects.