Psychotherapy is a form of treatment that never has been proved effective and may, in fact, be harmful, according to a new book written by UNLV professor William Epstein.

In his book, "The Illusion of Psychotherapy," published in June by Transaction Publishers, Epstein takes aim at psychotherapy, saying that there is no credible clinical evidence showing that psychotherapy is successful in handling personal or social problems.

All the studies done that purport to show that psychotherapy is valid have been flawed, he said. Relying on sample groups that are too small to be statistically valid, using unreliable measurements, and having the research conducted by people with a stake in its outcome are among the problems Epstein found with the studies he reviewed.

Epstein, a professor of social work, maintains that a more reliable way to combat the problems facing society is through better funded human services programs, such as foster care, day care, and job training programs.

That solution, however, has never been tried because of the tremendous expense involved in fully funding the programs, he said. Yet, the problems visible in society today are to a large degree the result of under-funded social programs, he said.

"Taken in context of the alternatives for a more egalitarian and humane civic culture that it supplants, psychotherapy has emerged as an influential art form that reinforces the superstitious tendencies of our age," Epstein said.

In the book's conclusion, he challenges society to realize that psychotherapy is not the solution and to acknowledge that other avenues of curing social problems must be tried.

Epstein also is the author of "The Dilemma of American Social Welfare," published by Transaction.