Rorschach Correlates of Traumatic Neurosis of War

Only two cases out of a total population of 1500 military men evacuated from a war zone with psychiatric diagnoses were found to be suffering from traumatic neurosis. The Rorschach protocols of these two cases are presented and discussed within Kardiner's theoretical framework. Despite diverse social, educational, and occupational backgrounds these two Ss produced markedly similar protocols illustrating how in traumatic neurosis projective stimuli may serve as releasors for the abreactive repetition of the trauma as seen in highly charged responses which are affect-laden, violent, phobic and sometimes psychotic-like in nature.     

Professional ethics and legal responsibilities: On the horns of a dilemma

Through a series of fact situations the author demonstrates that reliance by practicing school psychologists on codes of ethics may lead to legal liability. Five areas are chosen for particular attention: 1) Parents' right to access to records; 2) Informed consent and the right to privacy in research and assessment; 3) Confidentialty of client-clinician communication; 4) Parental refusal of proferred educational services; 5) Treatment of minors without parental consent. Current statutory and case law is reviewed to give practitioners some sense of how the legislature and judiciary view professionals' responsibility in these areas. The article concludes with a discussion of why codes of ethics fail to provide adequate support for pscyhologists in meeting problems encountered in their everyday functioning and suggests some remedial measures for improving the current codes governing school psychology.     

Explicit ambiguity: the 1992 ethics code as an oxymoron

The author reviews the major themes emerging from commentators' reactions to the 1992 American Psychological Association ethics code and presents his own views as well. Commentators agreed that the 1992 code is improved by its increased breadth and specific attention to important issues not addressed in the previous code but criticized the code for its lack of clarity, its rampant qualifying language, and for seeming to protect the profession rather than the public. The author, finding the code overly long, detailed, and lawyered, recommends that those who revise the code in the 21st century adhere more closely to fundamental moral principles.     

The Relation Between Ethical Codes and Moral Principles

We describe the application of fundamental moral principles, with particular emphasis on prima facie duties, to formal codes of ethics that regulate the conduct of forensic psychologists who act as expert witnesses. Then we discuss the American Psychological Association's (1992) "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" and the Committee on Ethical Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists's "Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists" (1991 ) and critically appraise how these documents translate basic moral principles. We conclude that, in many ways, the documents exemplify ethical obligations such as nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice, but they fall short in many other ways, particularly with regard to autonomy and fidelity.     

Case vignette: to share or not to share

For years, the notion that researchers should share data freely with fellow scientists has been discussed widely. Some argue that this is especially true when the data are generated in federally funded projects. A recent provision in the reauthorization bill for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would ensconce this principle in law. NIH grantees would be required, on demand, to furnish their data to other researchers. According to the proposed legislation, research data would have to be preserved and made avilable for 3 years after the completion of a project, and for 5 years following publication of the results in a scientific journal. One objective, according to a congressional aide, would be to make it easier for scientists with dissenting views to obtain and reanalyze data collected with public funds. It would also facilitate publication of alternative analyses. Personal records and patent applications would be exempted, but other data from clinical, behavioral, or epidemiological research focused on the evaluation or efficacy of a drug, medical device, or treatment of any sort would be covered immediately. Is such mandatory sharing of data ethical and appropriate scholarship? Does it raise potential for abuse? Should colleagues be required to provide such access to data, whether or not federal support was used in its collection?     

APA amicus curiae briefs. Furthering lesbian and gay male civil rights

The authors describe the American Psychological Association's (APA's) efforts to affect social policy and judicial decision making by delineating APA's participation as amicus curiae in five cases concerning the civil rights of lesbians and gay men. They discuss the function and importance of amicus briefs, review the legal principles used to advance the constitutional rights of lesbians and gay men, outline the facts in the cases APA entered, sketch the legal theories and scientific evidence that APA brought to the courts' attention, and relate the courts' decisions in those cases. They conclude with recommendations for the use of such briefs in future litigation and legislative efforts to advance the rights of lesbians and gay men.     

Parental consent for psychological evaluations: Legal,ethical and practical considerations

This article explores the legal, ethical, and practical considerations underlying the requirement for acquiring parental consent prior to a psychological assessment of children in school settings. Publ. L. 94-142 now mandates that parents for all children potentially labeled as handicapped give permission for a preplacement evaluation. This article reviews in detail specific aspects of that mandate, argues that this procedure be generalized to all situations where psychologists propose to evaluate children by reviewing both current ethical codes and standards for practice and public policy which favors such an undertaking. Finally, the authors indicate methods for implementing the mandate by discussing such issues as who should obtain consent and what information parents should receive prior to giving consent.