Christopher Barden

R. Christopher Barden Ph.D., J.D., L.P. is licensed attorney, licensed psychologist, and expert witness who served as the President of the National Association for Consumer Protection In Mental Health Practices from 1995 to 2005 He is best known for litigation, speaking, professional training, and writing designed to protect the rights of patients in the mental health system.

EDUCATION In 1976, Barden graduated from the Insitute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota with a B.A., Summa Cum Laude, receiving the Distinguished Graduating Senior Award. In 1982, Dr. Barden received a Ph.D. in child and adult clinical psychology following training at the University of Minnesota, U.C. Berkeley, and the Palo Alto V.A./ Stanford Medical Center. In 1992, Dr. Barden graduated with a J.D., cum laude from Harvard Law School.

HONORS As a result of his research and publishing efforts in the field of psychology, Barden received several Fellowships from the National Institute of Mental Health and was awarded a National Young Scholar Award from the Foundation for Child Development and a National Faculty Scholar Award from the W. T. Grant Foundation.

PUBLICATIONS Barden has published in, and/or served as an editor or reviewer for, several of the most highly regarded journals and texts in a number of professional fields including Developmental Psychology, Child Development, Psychological Bulletin, Ambulatory Pediatrics, Advances in Child Clinical Psychology, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, and the Harvard Journal on Legislation.

SCIENCE INTENSIVE LITIGATION Barden is best known for what he calls "science intensive litigation" -- employing the power of the legal system, in cohesive teams of scientists and lawyers, to reform the mental health system. He has participated in dozens of successful lawsuits against "recovered memory" therapists, "holding therapists", "attachment therapists", "multiple personality disorder therapists", and other practitioners of dangerous pseudotherapies. . A recent amicus curiae brief to the California Supreme Court drafted by Barden and signed by nearly 100 international experts in the field of human memory emphasized there is no credible scientific support for the notions of repressed and recovered memories.

THE FIRST MILLION DOLLAR PSYCHOTHERAPY LAWSUITS In 1995, Barden represented the Hamanne family of Minnesota in the first financially viable, multimillion lawsuit against"recovered memory" therapists. In 1996, Barden represented the Carlson family in the second multimillion lawsuit against"recovered memory" therapists.

THE WORLD RECORD RECOVERED MEMORY THERAPY CASE Most commentators agree that the most significant recovered memory lawsuit was the Illinois case of Burgus v. Braun resulting in a world record 10.6 Million dollar settlement. This case is often noted as the end of the repressed memory movement in the U.S. Reported on page one, column one of the NY Times the Burgus case galvanized opposition to recovered memory practices. The next thing I think there will be is legislation to require informed consent from psychiatric patients for such [recovered memory] 'treatments', said Dr. R. Christopher Barden, a psychologist and lawyer [for the plaintiff Burgus]... I think insurance companies will stop reimbursing people for mental health treatments that are not proven safe and effective. This is the death knell for recovered memory therapy.

A FIVE YEAR WAVE OF LAWSUITS ENDED DANGEROUS RECOVERED MEMORY THERAPY PRACTICES Barden's series of highly visible and successful lawsuits has often been cited as the major reason for the fall of the repressed memory industry.

A NATIONALLY REPORTED CRIMINAL PROSECUTION ENDED A DANGEROUS ATTACHMENT THERAPY PRACTICE Barden also served as the expert witness for State of Colorado prosecutors in the first trial to result in lengthy criminal sentences for improper psychotherapy. This case, known nationally as the Newmaker trial, focused on the death of Candace Newmaker during "rebirthing therapy" and "attachment therapy". This verdict, and the resulting 17 year prison sentences for the therapists, is widely cited as leading to the end of such practices in the U.S.

LAWSUITS, PROSECUTIONS, LICENSE REVOCATIONS, AND NATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION LED MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS TO COMPLY WITH INFORMED CONSENT RULES Perhaps the most powerful and lasting contribution of the "science intensive litigation" suits against mental health practitioners has been the overdue implementation of informed consent rules and principles in the mental health system.

REFORM OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SYSTEM FOR CHILDREN IN THE U.S. In 1993 Dr. Barden worked with a multidisciplinary team (physicians, psychologists, methodologists, attorneys, economists and others) to propose, draft, and publish extensive legislative reforms for the U.S. Emergency Medical System for Children. Some version of this proposed legislation was enacted by the States of New Jersey (1992), Texas (1993), Utah (1994), Colorado (1995), Hawaii (1996), and Louisiana (1996) followed by many others. These legislative ideas have continued to expand across the U.S. As of July 1997 18 states reported the creation of a separate Emergency Medical System for Children Advisory Board (as required by this legislative proposal) and 15 states required pediatric representation on State EMS Advisory Boards. National experts have commented on this Emergency Medical Systems for Children legislation including a former Surgeon General of the United States, who wrote "Emergency medical services geared to the unique needs of our youngest citizens are absolutely necessary if we are to save critically ill or injured children... This [New Jersey] law could serve as a model for the rest of the United states to follow. Congratulations!" and a President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, "This landmark law will save the lives of countless children in New Jersey and will serve as a model for the nation." Similar comments were offered by another former Surgeon General of the United States who wrote, "This landmark bill will significantly improve services for critically ill and injured children in New Jersey and will serve as a model for other states... I salute your efforts!"

ENTERTAINMENT REFORM Dr. Barden currently serves as President of the Character and Morality in Entertainment Awards (CAMIEs) along with Board Members Dr. Laura Schlesinger, Sean Hannity, Pat Boone, Marianne Jennings, U.S. Congressman Chris Cannon, Dr. Glen Griffin, and many others. The CAMIE Awards organization reviews hundreds of movies annually, selecting a handful of films viewed as displaying role models of character and morality.

MEMBER - COMMISSION FOR SCIENTIFIC MEDICINE AND MENTAL HEALTH 2004 Dr. Barden is currently a member of the Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health CSMMH. CSMMH is an international group of distinguished researchers, academics, and practitioners from widely diverse disciplines -- including medicine, psychiatry, psychology, pathology, biochemistry, nutrition, and physics -- who are dedicated to maintaining high standards of scientific quality in the health care system. Members joining Dr. Barden on this commission include a number of the most prominent scientists in the world including: Baruj Benacerraf, MD, Nobel Laureate, President, Dana-Farber Inst. , Francis Crick, PhD, Nobel Laureate, Salk Institute (deceased), Arthur Kornberg, MD, Nobel Laureate, Stanford University, Leon Lederman, PhD, Nobel Laureate, Illinois Inst of Technology, Glenn T. Seaborg, PhD, Nobel Laureate, Univ of California (deceased), Marvin Minsky, PhD, M.I.T., Rank Prize, Royal Society of Medicine and dozens of others.

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