Introduction
Mental health is a rather concerning issue among veterans, including disorders such as PTSD and depression. Psychologists who work with them often perform various tests and assessments. However, it is crucial for them to take the code of ethics into consideration, including such aspects as informed consent and bases for assessments. By taking these measures, the assessment implemented will be proven to be justified and necessary.
Main Body
One of the most concerning disorders among veterans is Major Depressive Disorder. According to research, 20 percent of them struggle with depression (Moradi et al., 2021). One of the tests used to assess any possible symptoms of the disorder is PHQ-9. It is used to provide scores for each of the nine criteria ranging from 0 to 3 (Patient, n. d.). It reviews such aspects as the person’s mood, anhedonia, concentration issues, and lack of energy. This test is used to have a general depiction of one’s symptoms of depression to later move to other, more specific tests and assessments.
I would recommend considering such aspects as bases for assessment, test data, and informed consent. According to section 9 of the Code of Ethics, psychologists can justify the opinions that are present in their recommendations and provide their perception of an individual’s psychological characteristics after providing an examination to confirm their opinions (American Psychological Association, n.d d.). To ensure informed consent, they should inform the patient of the features and goal of the test. In more complicated cases, they either need to explain it in a more understandable manner or use an interpreter. Test data is represented by scores and responses to questions. In most cases, they should be provided to the person unless sharing it may be harmful. Finally, psychologists should properly explain the results and protect and ensure the integrity of test materials, i.e., test questions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, depression affects approximately one-fifth of veterans. In order to assess the prevalence of depression among them, psychologists can use such tests as the PHQ-9, where each of the symptoms is rated from 0 to 3. However, I would advise them to maintain confidentiality and informed consent, provide explanations of the results, and ensure that their opinions on an individual’s condition are based on valid information. That way, professionals could not only ensure that the Code of Ethics is considered but also provide ground for future and more detailed tests and assessments.
References
American Psychological Association. (n. d.). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Web.
Moradi, Y., Dowran, B., & Sepandi, M. (2021). The global prevalence of depression, suicide ideation, and attempts in the military forces: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies. Web.
Patient. (n.d.). PHQ-9 depression test questionnaire. Web.