CHAPTER I – GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Article 1 – Scope of application
The rules of this Code of Ethics are binding on all members of the Register.
All registered psychologists are required to know them and ignorance of them does not exempt them from disciplinary liability. The same rules also apply in cases where the services, or parts thereof,
be carried out remotely, via the Internet or by any other electronic and/or telematic means.

Article 2 – Disciplinary procedures and sanctions
Psychologists do not engage in actions or behaviors that undermine the decorum and dignity of the profession.
Failure to comply with the provisions set forth in this Code of Ethics, and any action or omission contrary to the proper exercise of the profession, shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Article 26, paragraph 1, of Law No. 56 of 18 February 1989.

Article 3 – Principle of responsibility
Psychologists consider it their duty to increase knowledge of human behavior and use it to promote the psychological well-being of individuals, groups, and communities. In every professional field, they work to improve people’s ability to understand themselves and others and to behave in a conscious, appropriate, and effective manner.
The psychologist is aware of the social responsibility arising from the fact that, in the professional practice, they can intervene
significantly in the lives of other people. They must therefore pay particular attention to personal, social, cultural, organizational, financial and political factors in order to avoid the inappropriate use of their influence, and not to unduly exploit the trust and possible situations of dependence of clients and people to whom they provide professional services.. 
Psychologists are responsible for their professional actions and their foreseeable and direct consequences.

Article 4 – Principle of respect and secularism
In the initial phase of the professional relationship, psychologists provide the individual, group, institution, or community, whether they are users or clients, with adequate and understandable information about their services, their purposes and methods, as well as about the degree and legal limits of confidentiality. They recognize individual, gender, and cultural differences, promote inclusiveness, respect opinions and beliefs, and refrain from imposing their own value system.
The psychologist uses methods, techniques, and tools that safeguard these principles and refuses to collaborate in initiatives that are detrimental to them. When conflicts of interest arise between the user and the institution where the psychologist works, the latter must clearly explain to the parties the terms of their responsibilities and the constraints to which they are bound by professional obligations.

Article 5 – Professional competence
Psychologists are required to maintain an adequate level of professional training and development, with particular regard to the sectors in which they operate. Violation of the obligation of continuing education constitutes a disciplinary offense, which is sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of the professional regulations. They recognize the limits of their competence and therefore use only theoretical and practical tools for which they have acquired adequate expertise and, where necessary, formal authorization.
The psychologist uses methodologies for which they are able to indicate the sources and scientific references and do not raise unfounded expectations in the client and/or user.

Article 6 – Professional autonomy
The psychologist accepts only working conditions that do not compromise their professional autonomy and compliance with the rules of this code, and, in the absence of such conditions, they inform their Territorial Council.
Psychologists safeguard their autonomy in choosing psychological methods, techniques, and tools, as well as in their use; they are therefore responsible for their application and use, the results, the assessments, and the interpretations they derive from them.
When collaborating with professionals from other disciplines, psychologists exercise full professional autonomy while respecting each other’s expertise.

Article 7 – Validity of data and information
In research activities, in communicating results, and in all other professional activities, as well as in teaching, training, and supervision, psychologists carefully evaluate, also in relation to the context, the degree of validity, reliability, accuracy, and trustworthiness of the data, information, and sources on which they base their conclusions. They present, where appropriate, alternative interpretative hypotheses and clarify the limitations of the results they have reached.
In specific cases, psychologists express professional assessments and judgments only if they are based on direct professional knowledge or on adequate documentation, consistent with the topic being assessed, and reliable.

Article 8 – Protection of the profession and fight against unauthorized practice
Psychologists combat the unauthorized practice of their profession as defined in Articles 1 and 3 of Law No. 56 of February 18, 1989, and report to the Council of the Order any alleged cases of unauthorized practice or usurpation of title of which they become aware.
Likewise, they use their professional title exclusively for activities pertaining to it and do not use it to endorse misleading or abusive activities.

Article 9 – Informed consent in research
In their research activity, psychologists are required to adequately inform the people involved in it regarding the purposes, procedures, methods, times and risks of the same, as well as the methods of processing the personal data collected in order to obtain their consent. They are also required to provide adequate information regarding the name, scientific and professional status of the researcher and their institution of affiliation. They must also guarantee the people participating in the research the full freedom to grant, refuse or withdraw their consent. In the event that the nature of the research does not allow for the participants to be informed in advance, correctly and completely about some aspects of the research itself, the psychologists are obliged to provide, at the end of the experimental activity and/or research, the required information and to acquire authorization to use the material and data collected. As regards persons who, due to age or other reasons, are unable to validly express their consent, this must be given by those who exercise parental responsibility or guardianship.. 
The consent of the individuals themselves is also required, provided they are able to understand the nature of the contents of the activities in which they will be involved and the collaboration required, in relation to their age and level of maturity, with full respect for their dignity.
In any case, people’s rights to privacy, non-recognition, and anonymity must be protected.

Article 10 – Professional activities with animals
When professional activities, including research, concern animal behavior, psychologists undertake to respect their nature and avoid causing them suffering.

Article 11 – Professional secrecy
The psychologist and the psychologist are strictly bound to professional secrecy.
Therefore, they do not reveal news, facts or information learned by virtue of their professional relationship, nor do they provide information about professional services planned or performed, unless the hypotheses envisaged in the following articles apply.

Article 12 – Testimony
Psychologists refrain from providing summary information or testimony regarding information they have learned as a result of their profession. Psychologists may waive the obligation of professional secrecy in the presence of valid and demonstrable consent from the person receiving the service. However, they evaluate the appropriateness of using such consent, considering the psychological protection of the person receiving the service as paramount.
In the absence of the consent of the person receiving the service and except in cases where they are required to report it to the judicial authority, the psychologist must refrain from providing information, and in the event of testimony, they must defer to the judge’s reasoned decision.

Article 13 – Cases of reporting or complaint or derogation from confidentiality
In the event of a reporting obligation or obligation to report, the psychologist and the psychologist limit the reference to what they have learned by virtue of their professional relationship to what is strictly necessary to fulfill this obligation, for the purposes of the psychological protection of the person.
In other cases, they carefully evaluate the need to totally or partially derogate from their due confidentiality if serious dangers to the life or physical and mental health of the person and/or third parties are foreseen.. 

Article 14 – Professional interventions on groups
In the case of interventions on or through groups, the psychologist and the psychologist have the task of informing, in the initial phase, about the rules governing such intervention. They must also, when necessary, commit the members of the group to respecting each person’s right to confidentiality.

Article 15 – Interprofessional collaboration and information sharing
In the case of collaboration with other professionals equally bound to confidentiality, the psychologist and the psychologist, with the prior consent of the person receiving the service, may share only the information strictly necessary in relation to the type of collaboration.

Article 16 – Safeguarding anonymity
The psychologist drafts scientific communications in such a way as to safeguard the anonymity of the people receiving the service in any case.

Article 17 – Protection of data and documents
The confidentiality of communications must also be protected and guaranteed through the custody and control of notes, memos, writings, or recordings of any kind and in any form, which concern the professional relationship.
This documentation must be kept for at least five years following the end of the professional relationship, except as provided for by specific regulations.
The psychologist and the psychologist who collaborate in the creation and use of documentation systems work to create guarantees of protection for the persons concerned.

Article 18 – Respect for freedom of choice
In every professional context, psychologists must ensure that the freedom of choice of the professional to whom they turn is respected as much as possible, on the part of the organization or the client and/or patient.

Article 19 – Evaluation contexts
Psychologists who provide their professional services in selection and evaluation contexts are required to respect exclusively the criteria of their specific competence, qualifications, or training and do not endorse decisions contrary to these principles.

Article 20 – Psychological teaching and training activities
In their teaching, learning, and training activities, psychologists stimulate students and trainees’ interest in ethical principles, also inspiring their own professional conduct by them.

Article 21 – Teaching of professional methods, techniques and tools
Psychologists, including through teaching, in every field and at every level, promote psychological knowledge, share and disseminate psychological culture.
However, teaching people outside the psychology profession the use of methods, techniques, and cognitive and intervention tools specific to the profession itself constitutes a serious breach of ethics. An aggravating circumstance occurs when the teaching of methods, techniques, and tools specific to the psychology profession has the objective of pre-establishing possible abusive practices of the profession.

 

 

CHAPTER II – RELATIONSHIP WITH USERS AND CLIENTS

Article 22 – Non-harmful conduct
Psychologists adopt behaviors that are not harmful to the people they professionally care for, and in their healthcare activities they adhere to guidelines and good clinical-care practices.
They do not use their role and their professional tools to secure undue advantages for themselves or others.

Article 23 – Professional compensation
In the initial phase of the professional relationship, the psychologist and the male psychologist agree on compensation.
In any case, the amount of compensation must be appropriate to the nature and complexity of the professional activity.
In a clinical setting, such compensation cannot be contingent on the outcome or results of the professional intervention.

Article 24 – Informed consent for medically competent adults
No medical treatment may be initiated or continued without the free and informed consent of the interested party, except in cases expressly provided for by law. Obtaining informed consent is an act of specific and exclusive responsibility of the psychologist. Informed consent, acquired in the ways and with the tools most appropriate to the context and conditions of the person, is documented in written form or through video recording or, for the person with disabilities, through devices that allow them to communicate. The psychologist informs the interested party in a comprehensible, complete, and up-to-date manner about the purpose and method of the medical treatment, any diagnosis and prognosis, the benefits and any risks, as well as about the possible alternatives and the consequences of refusing medical treatment.

Article 25 – Use of tools and communication of results
Psychologists do not misuse the diagnostic and assessment tools at their disposal.
In the case of interventions commissioned by third parties, they inform people about the nature of the professional intervention and do not use, except within the limits of the mandate received, any information learned that could cause them harm. When reporting and communicating the results of their diagnostic and evaluative interventions, the psychologist is required to adapt and regulate such communication also in relation to the psychological protection of the people to whom it is intended and/or refers.

Article 26 – Principle of abstention
Psychologists refrain from undertaking or continuing any professional activity where their personal problems or conflicts, interfering with the nature and effectiveness of their services, render them inadequate or harmful to the people to whom they are addressed.
Furthermore, psychologists avoid assuming professional roles and carrying out interventions towards other people, even at the request of the Judicial Authority, if the nature of previous relationships could compromise their credibility and effectiveness.

Article 27 – Termination of the professional relationship
The psychologist evaluates and, if necessary, proposes the termination of the professional relationship when they determine that the patient is not benefiting from the psychological intervention and cannot reasonably be expected to benefit from its continuation. Where necessary, they provide the patient with appropriate information to seek other, more suitable interventions.

Article 28 – Intermingling of professional role and private life
The psychologist avoids mixing their professional role and life. private that may interfere with professional activity or otherwise cause harm to the social image of the profession. It constitutes a serious breach of ethics to carry out diagnostic interventions, psychological support or psychotherapy aimed at people with whom they have had or have significant personal relationships, particularly of an emotional – sentimental and/or sexual nature. Likewise, it constitutes a serious breach of ethics to establish the aforementioned relationships during the course of the professional relationship. Psychologists are prohibited from any activity that, by virtue of the professional relationship, could produce for them undue direct or indirect advantages of a pecuniary or non-pecuniary nature, with the exception of the agreed compensation. Psychologists do not exploit the professional position they assume towards colleagues under supervision and trainees for purposes outside of the professional relationship.

Article 29 – Preliminary conditions for intervention
Psychologists may make their intervention conditional on other health treatments and on the condition that the patient turns to certain facilities, institutions, or places of care only for well-founded scientific-professional reasons.

Article 30 – Proportionality between intervention and compensation
In the exercise of their profession, psychologists are prohibited from receiving any form of compensation that does not constitute consideration for professional services.

Article 31 – Informed consent for healthcare in cases of minors or incapacitated persons
Health treatments for minors or incapacitated persons are subject to the informed consent of those who exercise parental responsibility or guardianship over them. The psychologist takes into account the wishes of the minor or incapacitated person in relation to their age and degree of maturity, while fully respecting their dignity.
In cases of total or partial absence of informed consent as referred to in the first paragraph, where the psychologist and the psychologist instead believe that the medical treatment is necessary, the decision is left to the judicial authority. This does not apply to cases in which the medical treatment is carried out by order of the legally competent authority or in legislatively designated facilities.

Article 32 – Performance requested by a client
When a psychologist agrees to provide professional services at the request of a client other than the person receiving the service, they are required to clarify the nature and purpose of the intervention with the parties involved.
In all cases where the recipient and the client are not the same person, the psychologist and the psychologist give priority to the person receiving the intervention.

 

CHAPTER III – RELATIONS WITH COLLEAGUES

Article 33 – Principle of connection
Relationships between psychologists must be inspired by the principles of mutual respect, loyalty, and collaboration.
The psychologist supports and sustains colleagues who, in the context of their activity, regardless of the nature of their working relationship and their hierarchical position, see their autonomy and respect for ethical standards compromised.

Article 34 – Contribution to the development of psychological disciplines
The psychologist undertakes to contribute to the development of psychological disciplines and to communicate the progress of their knowledge and techniques to the professional community, also with the aim of promoting their diffusion for purposes of human and social well-being.

Article 35 – Indications of sources
When presenting the results of their scientific research and professional activities, psychologists must indicate the contributions of others and their sources.

Article 36 – Judgments on the work of colleagues
Psychologists do not publicly express negative opinions about their colleagues regarding their training, competence, or in any case judgments that are detrimental to their dignity and professional reputation.
What makes matters worse is that these negative judgments are aimed at stealing customers from colleagues.
Should they identify cases of professional or methodological misconduct that could result in harm to the recipients or entities or to the decorum of the profession, the psychologist must promptly notify the competent Council of the Order.

Article 37 – Acceptance of the mandate
The psychologist accepts the professional mandate exclusively within the limits of their competence.
If the interest of the person or organization requesting the service requires the use of other specific skills, the psychologist and the psychologist will propose referral to another colleague or other professional.

Article 38 – Professional dignity and decorum
In the exercise of their professional activity and in circumstances in which they publicly represent the profession in any capacity, psychologists are required to conform their conduct to the principles of professional dignity and decorum.

 

CHAPTER IV – RELATIONS WITH THE COMPANY

Article 39 – Professional presentation
The psychologist correctly and accurately presents their training, experience, and expertise.
They recognize their duty to help the community, customers and clients to freely and consciously develop judgments, opinions and choices.

Article 40 – Professional advertising
Regardless of the limits imposed by current legislation on advertising, psychologists do not publicly assume
incorrect behaviors and those aimed at procuring customers. In any case, informative advertising may be carried out regarding the securities and
professional specializations, the characteristics of the service offered, as well as the price and overall costs of the services according to criteria of transparency and truthfulness of the message, compliance with which is verified, where necessary, by the competent Councils of the Order.
The message must be formulated in compliance with professional decorum, in accordance with the criteria of scientific seriousness and the protection of the image of the profession. The lack of transparency and truthfulness of the advertised message constitutes a violation of ethics.

 

CHAPTER V – IMPLEMENTING RULES

Article 41 – Permanent Observatory on the CDPI
The “Permanent Observatory on the Code of Ethics” is established within the “Ethics Commission” of the Order of Psychologists, regulated by a specific act of the National Council of the Order. The Observatory has the task of collecting the jurisprudence on ethical matters of the regional and provincial Councils of the Order and any other material useful for formulating the proposals that the Commission will have to bring to the Council.
National Order for the purposes of periodic review of the Code of Ethics.

Article 42 – Entry into force of the CDPI
This Code of Ethics enters into force on the thirtieth day following the proclamation of the results of the approval referendum, pursuant to art. 28, paragraph 6, letter c) of Law 18 February 1989, no. 56.