Mental health treatments under scrutiny: Benefits, harms, and the cost of inaction.

In this viewpoint article, The authors shine a spotlight on the inaction and an even brighter light on constructive recommendations for those conducting research on psychological treatments and disseminating its findings. The authors view these actions as necessary for disrupting the downward spiral of mistrust in science. Otherwise, advances in clinical psychological science and public health are in jeopardy. They propose two areas of action: (1) emphasize mechanisms of not only benefit but also potential harm in our conceptual and empirical analyses of mental health treatments-especially psychosocial interventions, and (2) balance dissemination efforts with regard to both benefits and harm. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).