Ethics and research in psychiatry: Consent, capacity, and bioethics

This chapter provides an overview of the principles underlying ethical procedures in psychiatric research, with a specific focus on populations with mental disorders and research conducted in people who may lack capacity to consent to take part in research.

Key topics covered in the chapter include the principles underlying ethical clinical research in psychiatry, the procedural elements of obtaining valid consent to take part in research from participants (including specific consent procedures), the principles underlying assessment of whether individuals have the capacity to consent to research and tools/instruments which may aid determining this, the procedures which should be observed when consent is sought for research in instances where capacity to consent may be absent, and protecting the best interests of vulnerable research participants.

The chapter includes a separate section outlining additional considerations for assessing capacity in children to take part in research.