APA Ethical Standards

The APA Code of Ethics has ten (10) enforceable Standards that assist practitioners in their assessment and treatment of patients and provide a guide for behavior and professional conduct. These Standards include the following: Resolving ethical issues, Competence, Human relations, Privacy and confidentiality, Advertising and other public statements, Record keeping and fees, Education and training, Research and publication, Assessment, and Therapy. Practitioners practicing in the psychological field use these Standards, and the five (5) Principles, as they navigate the field of psychology and make decisions in their practice, their research, and the development of future educational programs. It is these carefully crafted Standards and Principles,

From education and research to in-depth psychotherapy, the Code of Ethics finds its place. This has never been truer than in the area of cognitive testing. Cognitive testing, while having been utilized in various forms since the early 1900s, has not really been properly developed as a practice area enough where it is universally recognized and respected in the psychological field. (Demakis). This nuance exists despite the fact that cognitive testing and functional testing remain a core component of many psychological evaluations and immense value can be derived from the results of specific neurological testing when designed and administered correctly. (Demakis). Much of the data gathered is self-reported, lacks the ability to be easily referenced, and the data collection and analysis has left a multitude of unanswered questions. Id. Due to the specializations apparent infancy and lack of defined procedure, the importance of the APA Code of Ethics is vital to maintaining a high level of professionalism. One of the most important APA Standards to observe in the field of cognitive testing is Standard 6: Record Keeping and

He argues that without testing and research data, it is difficult to structure treatment plans and “to offer recommendations of improving psychological report-writing and consulting.” Accurate record keeping allows untold generations of future psychologists and mental health practitioners the opportunity to review and study the evolution of mental illness, treatment, and developed behavior. Id. It also provides future practitioners, educators design, structure new training, and reporting procedure to promote and encourage research and development in the field. Id. Demakis believes that while all neuropsychological testing is vital to psychology, it is particularly important to civil capacity evaluations; only through maintaining full and comprehensive records can the field of psychology continue to maintain a positive and revered reputation.