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Cited by 137Ethics in Clinical ResearchHealthcare Decision-Making and RestraintsEthics and bioethics in healthcare

Caring about risks: are severely depressed patients competent to consent to research

Elliott, Carl·1997·Archives of General Psychiatry
DOI 10.1001/archpsyc.1997.01830140021003
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Abstract

Depressed patients are often asked to take part in clinical research studies that carry risk. These patients are generally assumed to be mentally competent to consent to research, since depression often leaves a patient's cognitive abilities intact. In this article, it is argued that many severely depressed patients may not be competent to consent because they cannot be considered accountable for their decisions. The article presents 2 arguments: first, that it is unclear whether the decisions of some severely depressed patients are authentically theirs, and second, that some severely depressed patients may not have the appropriate minimal degree of concern for their own well-being. It is argued that assessments of competence must take account of emotional factors, and that, if severely depressed patients are incompetent to consent, research studies involving a poor risk-benefit ratio will be much more difficult to justify.

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Crossref · 10.1001/archpsyc.1997.01830140021003

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Authors
Elliott, C.
Affiliations
McGill University (CA)
Corresponding author
Elliott, Carl
Venue
Archives of General Psychiatry
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
1997-02-01
Volume
54
Issue
2
Pages
113
ISSN
0003-990X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1001/archpsyc.1997.01830140021003
OpenAlex
W1969879975
Cited by
137
References
25
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 2
FWCI
7.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of General Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics in Clinical Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Healthcare Decision-Making and Restraints
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics and bioethics in healthcare
Keywords
severe depression, informed consent, research participation, decision-making capacity, self-care, risk-benefit ratio, clinical research ethics
MeSH terms
Depressive Disorder, Ethics, Medical, Humans, Human Experimentation, Informed Consent, Research Design, Severity of Illness Index, Mental Competency, Risk Assessment

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