Dr McCartney notes the solution to the problem of the 'pop' psychologist in her article but it's worth emphasizing. Members of the British Psychological Society (BPS) are not permitted to stray beyond their area of expertise and anyone can submit a complaint if one does so. Moreover, a responsible editor/producer choses a practitioner psychologist registered with the HPC and should be wary of anyone who is not listed in their directory, or that of the BPS. Interestingly, there is a similar issue with regards to physicians. All the media seem to require is a basic degree and that is often sufficient to comment on almost any disease. I have no problem with GPs explaining what a condition is and how a GP can treat it, but if they tend to refer, the relevant specialist should be there to provide additional information. Given the expertise around (the BPS have a Press Office who can quickly provide any journalist with a suitably qualified psychologist), our media retains its fondness for the 'agony aunt' whose only qualifications appear to be an attractive face and an eventful (not defined) life. I once challenged a diagnosis made by one such lady on 'This Morning' but the producers had no interest in accuracy. Consequently, those watching the item in question would have been left with the impression that men can develop post natal depression when a more likely diagnosis might have been adjustment disorder. It responds well to counselling and tends to have a positive outcome. (To avoid ending up with another meaningless term, the diagnosis of post natal depression should be reserved for the mood disorder that develops after childbirth, and where there are no other explanations for the anxiety and depression, e.g. still-birth, partner deserting the mother, etc). The article made me think of what we expect from the media. Ultimately, if we don't mind a nice, elderly lady analyzing people's psychological or medical problems, and if we fail to ask producers why they leave it to a GP to evaluate the latest treatments for bowel cancer, rather than a consultant gastro-enterologist, then we only have ourselves to blame. As someone else said, 'we get the media we deserve'. This is not just about pop psychology, it's about the reliability of information on health in general. Let us insist that we be guided by individuals with knowledge and expertise, not just an attractive face or connection to a celebrtity. Ellen Goudsmit PhD FBPsS

Competing interests: None declared