Some ethical considerations in the development of psychopharmacological research and practice in the future

1. The author sees this issue as philosophical with paradoxical moral overtones. Ethical questions may have an inhibiting effect on drug research. 2. The individual morals and professional ethics of physicians and researchers are seen as central to the conduct of psycho-pharmacotherapeutic research. 3. The effect on ethics of religion, culture and social setting is discussed. 4. Human subjects in drug research are discussed. 5. Control of the drug industry (research, quality control, distribution) is discussed and supra national control advocated.