Long-term psychotherapy and informed consent.
Many long-term psychotherapies begin without sufficient attention to an informed-consent process. Failure to obtain informed consent may leave patients ill prepared to question the recommendation for long-term psychotherapy or to make alternate treatment choices. The author presents a model for informed consent to stimulate debate on ethical approaches to this type of treatment. The approach covers six areas therapists should discuss with candidates for long-term psychotherapy: the diagnostic model used and the recommendation for treatment, potential risks and benefits of treatment, availability of less expensive short-term interventions, clarification of the necessity for psychotherapy, limits of insurance coverage, and plans for measuring the patient's response to treatment. The decision to recommend long-term psychotherapy should be made through careful analysis of indications and contraindications for such treatment and in the context of informed consent.
Wenning
K
K
Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic, New Haven, CT 06511.
D030881:Disclosure; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States