ETHICAL PRACTICES AND BELIEFS OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY RESEARCHERS

Ethical guidelines are vague concerning how situations should be handl ed when researchers encounter participants in preexisting psychologica l distress. Ethical issues of beneficence, autonomy, and the nature of informed consent may arise in these situations. This study investigat ed the ethical practices and beliefs of 84 psychopathology researchers when confronting research participants in distress. Results indicated that psychopathology researchers in general engaged in diverse ethica l practices in providing debriefing, treatment referrals, and providin g for distressed participants. Characteristics of the designated studi es and of the researchers accounted for significant differences in eth ical practices. In addition, the type of psychopathology being assesse d accounted for significant differences in ethical practices and belie fs. Guidelines are offered to aid researchers who encounter participan ts in preexisting distress.