Editor—Like Dewhurst,¹ I am uncertain of the newly popular term “evidence based” for it implies, without directly stating, that past practices in mental health were not evidence based. They were. The evidence base was, however, limited and often basely false.

When a term garners acceptance as swiftly as “evidence based” has done, one would be wise to examine it closely.

How many people are using it simply to mirror a popular language use, and how many intellectually apply it with a concerted degree of integrity? Certainly past practices travelled in the same manner, and their equally broad acceptance was taken as an indication of evidence.

Where is the evidence for evidence based?