Principios éticos en psicoterapia dentro de un amplio marco deontológico psicológico y médico: una comparación internacional

Miguel Ricou; David D. Neto; Ana Silva; Sílvia Marina

doi:10.5565/rev/qpsicologia.1867

Ethical principles in psychotherapy within a broad psychological and medical deontological framework: An international comparison

Authors

Miguel Ricou Porto University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8190-9587
David D. Neto ISPA – Instituto Universitário/ AP-PsyCI- Applied Psychology Rese-arch Center Capabilities & Inclu-sion https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3129-262X
Ana Silva Universidade de Lisboa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7125-716X
Sílvia Marina Porto University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4808-9000

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Abstract

Awareness of ethics codes and professional guidelines is crucial to a professional role in psychotherapy practice. Psychotherapy practice is increasingly heterogeneous, and there is much discussion about their effectiveness for clients. In some countries, psychotherapy is an autonomous profession. In others, is part of the professional features of psychologists and psychiatrists, and it is possible to find other health professionals working as psychotherapists in some countries. Considering that ethical principles are central to the performance of a profession, we intend to find connections between the ethical principles for psychotherapists and psychologists or psychiatrists. A critical review was done to promote an integrative vision of ethics codes in psychotherapy. Content analysis of the ethics codes in psychotherapy was performed. Confidentiality, competence, and integrity were the principles more frequently found. Psychotherapists seem to have a major concern with interpersonal relationships and are less linked to social responsibility.

Keywords

Psychotherapy, Psychology, Codes of Ethics, Professional Practice

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Author Biographies

Miguel Ricou, Porto University

Miguel Ricou, Psychologist, Master in Bioethic and PhD in Clinical Psychology. President of the Clinical and Health Psychology Division of the Portuguese Order of Psychologists. Member of the Board of Ethics of EFPA – Portuguese Representative. Assistant Professor of Bioethics and Palliative Care, Faculty of Medicine of Oporto University, Portugal. Assistant Professor of Psychopathology and Ethics, Portucalense University, Portugal. Associated Member of CINTESIS - Center for Health Technology and Services Research.

David D. Neto, ISPA – Instituto Universitário/ AP-PsyCI- Applied Psychology Rese-arch Center Capabilities & Inclu-sion

David Dias Neto is an assistant professor at ISPA – Instituto Universitário. He concluded his doctoral degree in 2011, jointly awarded by the University of Lisbon and the University of Sheffield. He has published several papers and edited books on the fields of psychotherapy research, clinical and health psychology, and psychopathology.

Ana Silva, Universidade de Lisboa

PhD, C.Psych. Guest Assistant Professor at the Department of Cognitive Behavioral and Integrative Psychology of the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Lisbon, Portugal. Researcher at CICPSI – Centro de Investigação em Ciências Psicológicas.

Sílvia Marina, Porto University

Sílvia Marina, Psychologist, Master in Clinical and Health Psychology. Researcher at CINTESIS - Center for Health Technology and Services Research. She works in private practice at the Medical Innovation Center in Porto. She is a PhD Student in Palliative Care at Faculty of Medicine of Oporto University. Her main research work is in the areas of psychological intervention, end-of-life decision making and the role of psychologists in euthanasia/assisted suicide.