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Ethical Issues in Psychotherapy Research. In The Oxford Handbook of

Psychotherapy Ethics Edited by Manuel Trachsel, Jens Gaab, Nikola Biller-
Andorno, Şerife Tekin, and John Z. Sadl...

Chapter · September 2020

DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198817338.013.85

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Poornima Bhola Manuel Trachsel

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 Ethical Issues in Psychotherapy Research

Ethical Issues in Psychotherapy Research b

Violette Corre, Poornima Bhola, and Manuel Trachsel
The Oxford Handbook of Psychotherapy Ethics
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Subject: Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind Online Publication Date: Sep 2020

DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198817338.013.85

Abstract and Keywords

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relationship in which the most serious and sensitive topics of human existence are talked
about. In conducting psychotherapy research, it can be a challenge to align the ethical
SUHUHTXLVLWHVRISUDFWLFLQJSV\FKRWKHUDS\ZLWKWKHSDUWLFXODUPHWKRGRORJLFDOUHTXLUHo
PHQWVIRUPHDQLQJIXOVWXGLHV,QWKHSUHVHQWFRQWULEXWLRQWKHDXWKRUVGLVFXVVWKHIROORZo
ing topics in the context of psychotherapy research ethics based on current guidelines
and a narrative review of the literature: study designs, the process of informed consent to
research, confidentiality, different cultural paradigms, Internet-based research, and the
role of research ethics committees.

Keywords:psychotherapy,ethics,research,informed consent,confidentiality,evidence-based practice,research

ethics committees

Introduction
Conducting psychotherapy research can be viewed as an ethical mandate; creating value
IRUSDWLHQWVDQGSUDFWLWLRQHUVE\EXLOGLQJNQRZOHGJHDERXW‫ފ‬ZKDWWKHUDS\ZRUNVIRU
ZKRPXQGHUZKLFKFLUFXPVWDQFHV‫ދ‬3DXO1967). One research pathway tries to answer
questions aboutwhetherpsychotherapy works, and compares the relative outcomes of
GLIIHUHQWLQWHUYHQWLRQV‫ނ‬efficacyandeffectivenessresearch. In order to ensure the value
and integrity of psychotherapy research, we must ask more complex questions; about why
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FRPHVDQGZKDWPDNHVVRPHWKHUDSLVWVPRUHHIIHFWLYHWKDQRWKHUV$QRWKHUSDWKZD\RIo
fers a deeper, more complex understanding of the process of therapy orhowLWZRUNV‫ނ‬UHo
search onefficacy factorsandmechanism of change; exploring diverse aspects such as
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opment and role of the therapeutic alliance, and a range of therapy micro-processes and
their links to outcome.

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