Scientific psychology probably hit its high-water mark in the late sixties/early seventies with the promulgation of basic empirical principles. Many of these, which have been neglected and lost by the late-stage neurotics known as "therapists" of all persuasions, only a minority of them actual psychologists, allow for behavioral predictions and generalizations of significant mathematical accuracy.
Organizationally it is true that the APA's have been unethical and derelict in their missions. There are alternative organizations like the American Psychological Society which are dedicated to maintaining some standards of intellectual honesty but they are small and without much influence among the media.
I wish the APA would admit to the public that they don't have all the answers. They need to inform the public that psychiatric illness is sometimes difficult to treat, in many cases impossible to treat or cure unless the patient is locked away for life where he/she will not do any harm to themselves or others. For some illness, there is no cure ever. At least not at present.
I think the public's perception of mental illness and treatment largely differs from what the psychiatric profession can actively treat and cure. Most lay people think Prozac is peachy but they have no idea that it doesn't work for some and causes various side effects in others. For each and every medication available, some work and some don't for different people. The public tends to think that a pill is the answer to every medical diagnosis. I happen to believe that some medications work for some very well, and for other patients, other forms of treatment seem to work for them. It's whatever WORKS.
Many patients (not only ones with psychiatric illnesses) are not proactive in their treatment plans, either. I compare this to clapping with one hand. A patient can't simply take a pill and not do "his homework", i.e. use the tools that his therapist helps him to realize can help him. The public needs to realize that finding a good therapist and also using family and friends for support is the best plan of action they can take when treating their mental illnesses.