The authors argue that the concept of personal identity is central to ethical debates about emerging neurotechnologies, such as deep brain stimulation and memory modification. They contend that these technologies can alter traits and memories in ways that raise concerns about continuity of self. The paper examines philosophical accounts of personal identity and applies them to clinical and research contexts, suggesting that ethical evaluation must consider how interventions affect a person's narrative identity. The authors conclude that a nuanced understanding of identity is necessary for responsible development and use of neurotechnologies.
Psychiatric research raises unique ethical challenges. Historical scandals increased public concern and led to foundational bioethics documents. Key issues include participants' decision-making capacity and safety, such as placebo use, washout periods, suicide prevention study designs, and emergency psychiatry research. Changing psychiatric classification models have caused conflicts over research priorities. Emerging concerns involve psychedelic psychiatry research and investigators' use of artificial intelligence and social media.