Neurobioethics and Psychiatry

Abstract

Introduction. Anneliese A. Pontius was the first to draw attention to the thorny issues raised by studies conducted on infants, pavening the way for addressing ethical considerations in the care of people with mental disorders. Psychiatry is  receiving increasing attention from the field of neurobioethics. Numerous aspects are taken into consideration, such as the professional ethics of psychiatrists and psychotherapists, dilemmas in the use of psychopharmacological therapy, the use of sophisticated neurotechnologies in the clinical psychiatric setting, as well as the most salient anthropological issues regarding the mind-brain relationship. We can speak of psychiatric neurobioethics.

Methods. All material is drawn from the lectures and bibliography of the 8th Advanced Course in Neurobioethics, Pontifical Regina Apostolorum University in Rome, Academic Year 2024/25.

Results. Over the past decade, initiatives have emerged to protect and uphold the rights to care and equitable, evidence-based treatment for people with psychiatric disorders, a population that is growing worldwide. Conferences and working groups have been organized, an association—ICONN (International College of Neuroethics and Neuroscience)—has been founded, educational events have been held, and books have been published to raise awareness and sensitize neuroscientists, researchers, mental health professionals, and institutions regarding the most appropriate ways to care for people with schizophrenia.

Discussion. The approach to the complexity of psychiatric disorders and to those affected and their families challenges various systems: the clinical-medical system, but also the social, educational, and economic systems. It is becoming increasingly urgent to address these issues by taking into account scientific evidence and socioeconomic challenges, but through the lens of neurobioethics, which allows us to keep the people—the sole recipients of all our efforts—clearly in mind.