Professionalism and Ethics: Q and A Self-study Guide for Mental Health Professionals

This Self-Study Guide for consists of questions and answers that draw on sixteen experts' personal experience in the care of people with mental illness, in mental health research, and in clinical training. Each question presents scenarios that pose an ethical issue: some are narrow and to the point, such as responding to a suspicion of child abuse; others require a more nuanced approach, such as dealing with conflict of interest posed by a pharmaceutical company. The questions are resolved in alignment with the contributors' understanding of ethical principles, the standards of their fields, the law, and the expectations of mental health professionals. The brief case descriptions that frame each ethical question echo the real-life complexities of clinical practice and are presented in single-answer, multiple-choice format modeled after key medical licensure and specialty certification organizations. Following an overview of ethics and professionalism, questions cover four broad areas: core concepts, clinical care, medical research, and interactions with colleagues and trainees. Explanations following the questions offer background information about relevant ethical concepts and related legal and clinical considerations. A subsequent section features another set of questions for self-assessment, followed by answers with citations to appropriate references.