Psychiatric Ethics

Ethical issues inherent in psychiatric research and clinical practice are invariably complex and multi-faceted. Well-reasoned ethical decision-making is essential to deal effectively with patients and promote optimal patient care. Drawing on the positive reception of Psychiatric Ethics since its first publication in 1981, this highly anticipated 5th edition offers psychiatrists and other mental health professionals a coherent guide to dealing with the diverse ethical issues that challenge them.

This edition has been substantially updated to reflect the many changes that have occurred in the field during the past decade. Its 25 chapters are grouped into three sections which cover: 1) clinical practice in child and adolescent psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, psychogeriatrics, community psychiatry and forensic psychiatry; 2) relevant basic sciences such as neuroethics and genetics; and 3) philosophical and social contexts including the history of ethics in psychiatry and the nature of professionalism. Principal aspects of clinical practice in general, such as confidentiality, boundary violations, and involuntary treatment, are covered comprehensively as is a new chapter on diagnosis.

Given the contributors' expertise in their respective fields, Psychiatric Ethics will undoubtedly continue to serve as a significant resource for all mental health professionals, whatever the role they play in psychiatry. It will also benefit students of moral philosophy in their professional pursuits.

Sidney Bloch, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, and Honorary Senior Psychiatrist at St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne,Stephen A. Green, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Georgetown University School of Medicine, New York

Sidney Bloch AM, MB ChB, PhD, DPM, FRCPsych, FRANZCP is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Centre for Health and Society at the University of Melbourne, and Honorary Psychiatrist at St Vincent's Hospital.


Stephen A. Green, M.D., M.A. is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University, and has a private psychiatric practice in Washington, D.C.

Section A Historical, philosophical and social context
1. The scope of psychiatric ethics, Sidney Bloch and Stephen A Green
2. A historical perspective, Louis C Charland
3. The philosophical dimension, Tom L Beauchamp
4. Narrative ethics, Richard Martinez and Philip Candilis
5. Psychiatric diagnosis, Michael Laney and John Z Sadler
6. Psychiatric ethics and the professions, Margaret Coady
7. The abuse of psychiatry, Robert van Voren and Robert Keukens
8. Allocation of mental health resources, James E. Sabin and Norman Daniels
9. Psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry, Stephen A Green
10. Codes of psychiatric ethics, Sidney Bloch and Felicity Kenn
Section B Core issues in psychiatric ethics
11. Confidentiality, David Joseph, Melissa Goldstein and Joseph Onek
12. Involuntary hospitalization, Christopher Ryan and Jane Bartels
13. Suicide, Sidney Bloch and David Heyd
14. Boundary violations, Glen Gabbard
15. Psychiatric research, Laura Dunn and Laura Roberts
16. Psychiatric genetics, Charlotte Allan, Anne Farmer and Peter McGuffin
17. Neuroethics, Georg Northoff
Section C Ethical aspects of clinical psychiatry
18. Physical treatments, Mahesh Jayaram, Sarah Farrand, Dennis Velakoulis and Christos Pantelis
19. The psychotherapies, Gwen Adshead
20. Child and adolescent psychiatry, Adrian Sondheimer, Niranjan Karnik and Peter Jensen
21. Psychiatry of the elderly, Catherine Oppenheimer and Julian Hughes
22. Forensic psychiatry, Philip Candilis and Richard Martinez
23. Community psychiatry, George Szmukler
24. Trauma and psychiatry, Michael Robertson and Garry Walter
25. Consultation-liaison psychiatry, Tomer Levin and Christopher Ryan