Abstract
This paper describes the responses of psychiatry trainees to the suicide of a patient, either their own or a colleague’s, and how these responses may be influenced by the institutional and peer group dynamics. In many ways, residents’ reactions resemble those of seasoned clinicians. However, significant differences were noted which related to the formative nature of their professional identities and their sense of being evaluated by peers and supervisors. Substantive responses to the suicide were noted in the other trainees. Program recommendations are made which may decrease the traumatogenic potential of a suicide and foster personal and professional growth.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Reference Notes
Goldstein, LS, Buongiorno, PA: Psychotherapists as suicide survivors. Am J Psychother 38:392–398, 1984.
Kahne, MJ: Suicide among patients in mental hospitals: a study of the psychiatrists who conducted their psychotherapy. Psychiatry 31:32–43, 1968.
Schnur, DB and Levin, E: The impact of successfully completed suicides on psychiatric residents. J of Psych Ed 9:127–136, 1985.
Oldham, JM, Russakoff, IM: Suicide at a training center. J of Psych Ed 8:97–104, 1984.
Sacks, M, Eth S: Pathological identification as a cause of suicide on an inpatient unit. Hosp Community Psychiatry 32:36–40, 1981.
Crawford, JP, Willis, JH: Double suicide in psychiatric hospital patients. Br J Psychiat 112:1231–1235, 1966.
Anonymous: A suicide epidemic in a psychiatric hospital. Diseases of the Nervous System 38:327–331, 1977.
Kayton, L, Freed, H: Effects of a suicide in a psychiatric hospital. Arch Gen Psychiat 17:187–194, 1967.
Kolodny, S, Binder, RL, Bronstein, A, et al: The working through of patients’ suicides by four therapists. Suicide Life Threat Behav 9:33–46, 1979.
Horowitz, MJ: Stress Response Syndromes. New York: Jason Aronson, 1976.
Shneidman, E: Suicide, lethality and the psychological autopsy. Int Psychiatr Clin 6:225–250, 1969.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Alan M. Cohen, M.D., Matthew Keats, M.D., and Kevin Turnquist, M.D., were PGYIV- residents at the New York Hospital—Westchester Division at the time of the writing of the paper.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sacks, M.H., Kibel, H.D., Cohen, A.M. et al. Resident Response to Patient Suicide. Acad Psychiatry 11, 217–226 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03399978
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03399978