==================== 02/10/2000 Letters from the week of February 10th 2000
About those CCHR theories ... I wanted to write you to thank you for your rather courageous and forthright article on the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) and Scientology ("Group with Scientology connections opens chapter to investigate abuse," Jan. 27-Feb. 2). I say courageous because I wonder how many nasty e-mails you've already received from CCHR members, Scientologists, or anonymous flamers. I am currently a social work graduate student specializing in clinical training (psychotherapy). I have been aware of the CCHR's and Scientology's stated views on psychology/psychiatry for some time and was pleased to see your investigative article. The CCHR is correct in pointing out some of the egregious errors in the mental health field's history; however, these are mistakes that the field itself is aware of, ashamed of, and has hopefully learned from. But I note that the CCHR seems to rely almost exclusively on history -- some very obscure, at that. I find it amusing that Seaman references the DSM-II, which has not been in use for two decades. If you want to critique current problems, go ahead, but if the DSM has been revised three times since the second edition, obviously the mental health field found something wrong with it too. As far as the usefulness of medication vs. medications being over-prescribed: It's not such an easy, black-or-white answer as the CCHR has reportedly described it in the article. A large amount of people have benefited from psychotropic medication by their own report. Why does the CCHR not use their opinions? And yes, in my (non-medical, non-prescribing) opinion, some drugs are over- or too easily prescribed. Many do have side effects. Does that negate their usefulness? There's no logical reason to jump to that conclusion. The client's wishes and distress have to be weighed with the risks and benefits of medications, just as with any non-psychiatric medication. When it comes to other forms of treatment, the CCHR leaves me baffled. In your article, Seaman complains that most in our field believe that "drugs are the answer instead of counseling." What about those of us who exclusively do counseling? Why then urge to shut down community mental health centers? Perhaps in the above quote Seaman refers to that very particular type of counseling within Scientology. Perhaps not, as the CCHR and Scientology ARE officially unrelated. Again, thank you for your article. It's ironic that it is in line with one of the principals that CCHR espouses: informing the public about what's really going on. -- Ted Clements
Lawrence, Kan.

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