Introduction
Research in psychology is inevitably associated with human beings. The professional performance of a psychologist-experimentalist is a complex and responsible endeavor since it can involve the fate of people. An experimental study is connected to cognition of strictly individual features of a person, with their profound experiences and states. During this process, the psychologist operates with information, neglectful attitude, and use of which can cause irreparable damage both to individuals and the researcher’s credibility. Therefore, it is essential to establish basic ethical principles in depression studies.
The Ethics Commission’s Operations
The risks to participants in research should be assessed based on the benefits to society and the individuals themselves. This requirement is correctly stated in all codes of research ethics. Hence, one of the preliminary obligations of the “Early Diagnosis of Depression among young adults between 18-40 y/o in Primary Care Practice” project is to assess the potential hazards and benefits of the proposed study. An ethical committee will be established to evaluate the risks and expected helpfulness to verify that the study is rationally designed to minimize discomfort and invasive procedures for the subjects (Arifin, 2018). In addition, the analysis is being conducted to produce significant results to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of depression.
The Commission will validate the expected benefits of the study and the potential hazards. It is crucial to guarantee that these are no greater than those of the standard therapeutic and diagnostic procedures for diagnosing and treating depression. The committee will review whether the subjects and their legal representatives have provided all the relevant information required to obtain their informed and voluntary consent. In addition, the ethics committee should consider the provisions that protect the subjects’ privacy and protect the confidentiality of the information collected (Artal & Rubenfeld, 2017). In this case, it is imperative to confirm that additional precautions are available for persons suffering from mental disorders.
The Principle of Respect for People
The project will procure informed consent, a procedure that is not just about obtaining a signature. Informed consent guarantees that subjects understand the nature of the research and can voluntarily decide whether or not to participate (Office for Human Research Protections, 2018). It secures the protection of both parties: both the individual, whose autonomy is respected and the researcher, who is otherwise at variance with the law. Informed consent is one of the central ethical requirements for research involving human subjects. People with depression should indicate in the specified consent that they provide sufficient information about themselves and that they will observe an adequate understanding of the results and voluntarily accept the findings (Office for Human Research Protections, 2018). The committee is required to monitor that the dangers to participants are also clearly highlighted and that they are advised of them.
The Principles of Beneficence and Justice
In behavioral research, social studies, and some types of biomedical investigation, information collection methods can increase the risk of an attack on privacy and violation of confidentiality. Many research hazards are inherent in the information collection and analysis methodology. In the “Early Diagnosis of Depression among young adults between 18-40 y/o in Primary Care Practice” project, procedures tend to produce minimal distress, such as interviewing psychologists to gather data. This medical research aims to more accurately assess the impact of therapeutic or diagnostic procedures performed in the course of normal disease management (Friesen et al., 2017). This kind of research does not involve risks other than those associated with the medical influence.
The ethics committee needs to guarantee that the risks from the research will be minimal and consistent with the potential benefits. Participation in the study may induce undesirable changes in thinking and emotions, such as bouts of depression, confusion or hallucinations associated with the medication, stress, feelings of guilt, and shifts in self-esteem. These feelings may occur when the subject is interviewed or when they complete the questionnaire (Friesen et al., 2017). Thus, the Commission will monitor that participants not suffer and maximize the possible rewards. It is possible to mitigate or control even imminent hazards. The study may contain precautions and safeguards to decrease the potential for harm or limit its severity and duration (Friesen et al., 2017). The Commission is liable for ensuring that all risks are minimized.
The ethics committee is obliged to analyze the expected positive and negative consequences of the research being conducted. Moreover, the ethics committee should determine whether the researchers are sufficiently competent in their field of study. In addition, the committee needs to consider whether the researchers are adequately competent in the area being investigated (Arifin, 2018). The benefits of research are dual: advantages for the subjects and rewards for society. In the project, the individuals will undergo a mental health screening examination. This kind of research often involves examining influences that may be positive for the welfare of the participants. However, they should not be viewed as benefits gained from the analysis (Arifin, 2018). Studies for people may be activities that implicate personal rewards.
Conclusion
Hence, a special commission will be created to enforce ethical principles in the project. Its primary functions will be to examine compliance with the principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. The ethics committee will control the protection of both sides of the research and the potential hazards and rewards that participants may obtain. At the same time, it is essential that participants be rewarded equitably and appropriately for the goal of their engagement in the research.
References
Arifin, S. R. M. (2018). Ethical considerations in qualitative study. International Journal of Care Scholars, 1(2), 30-33. Web.
Artal, R., & Rubenfeld, S. (2017). Ethical issues in research. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 43, 107-114. Web.
Friesen, P., Kearns, L., Redman, B., & Caplan, A. L. (2017). Rethinking the Belmont report?. The American Journal of Bioethics, 17(7), 15-21. Web.
Office for Human Research Protections. (2018). The Belmont report. Web.