Psychosocial treatment research with ethnic minority populations: ethical considerations in conducting clinical trials

Ethics Behav. 2002;12(1):103-16. doi: 10.1207/S15327019EB1201_7.

Abstract

Because of historical mistreatment of ethnic minorities by research and medical institutions, it is particularly important for researchers to be mindful of ethical issues that arise when conducting research with ethnic minority populations. In this article, we focus on the ethical issues related to the inclusion of ethnic minorities in clinical trials of psychosocial treatments. We highlight 2 factors, skepticism and mistrust by ethnic minorities about research and current inequities in the mental health care system, that researchers should consider when developing psychosocial interventions studies that include ethnic minorities.

MeSH terms

  • Behavioral Research
  • Black or African American
  • Control Groups
  • Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Ethnicity / psychology*
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Human Experimentation*
  • Humans
  • Mental Health Services*
  • Minority Groups / psychology*
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care*
  • Research Design
  • Scientific Misconduct
  • Trust*