Ethics and research in psychiatry: Engagement with patients and public

Abstract

This chapter explores the ethical issues that arise in psychiatric research in relation to engagement with patients and the general public. Over the past decade, there has been a significant shift in psychiatric and other medical research that places an emphasis on the engagement and involvement of patients and the public. This shift has resulted in changes in the expectations of the way research is conducted and disseminated, specifically regarding the level of scientific knowledge that should be accessible to service users and the public. The chapter begins by making the distinction between patient and public engagement and patient and public involvement. It then discusses basic ethical principles as they relate to engagement, and provides examples of how patient and public engagement is situated within psychiatric research agendas, particularly as it relates to participatory action approaches. It concludes with three brief case studies of engagement approaches in psychiatric research with discussion of ethical issues that may arise in different types of engagement.