Abstract
Patient suicide, which has been shown to have great emotional impact upon trainees, is experienced by as many as one in three psychiatry residents. The authors report the results of a national survey of psychiatry residency training programs (N=166) that asked about 1) current training practices in the area of suicide and 2) required or recommended procedures in the event of suicide by a resident’s patient. Results show that programs commonly offer training in the assessment and treatment of suicidal patients, but the question remains as to whether the training is adequate to meet the challenges of working with suicidal individuals. Results also reflect considerable variability in “postvention” practices among programs and training settings, especially in terms of what steps should be taken when a trainee’s patient commits suicide. Implications of the survey for residency training programs are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chemtob CM, Hamada RS, Bauer G, et al: Patients’ suicides: frequency and impact on psychiatrists. Am J Psychiatry 1988; 145:224–228
Brown HN: Patient suicide and therapists in training, in Suicide: Understanding and Responding, edited by Jacobs D, Brown HN. Madison, CT, International Universities Press, 1989, pp. 415–434
Deutsch CJ: Self-reported sources of stress among psychotherapists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 1984; 15:833–845
Chemtob CM, Bauer GB, Hamada RS, et al: Patient suicide: Occupational hazard for psychologists and psychiatrists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 1989; 20:294–300
Sacks MH, Kibel HD, Cohen AM, et al: Residency response to patient suicide. Journal of Psychiatric Education 1987; 11:217–226
Valente SM: Psychotherapist reactions to the suicide of a patient. Am J Orthopsychiatry 1994; 64:614–621
Bongar B, Harmatz M: Graduate training in clinical psychology and the study of suicide. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 1989; 20:209–213
Shneidman ES: Suicide as Psychache: A Clinical Approach to Self-Destructive Behavior. Northvale, NJ, Aronson, 1993
Bongar B: The Suicidal Patient: Clinical and Legal Standards of Care. Washington, DC, American Psychological Association, 1991
Bongar B, Lomax JW, Marmatz M: Training and supervisory issues in the assessment and management of suicidal patients, in Suicide: Guidelines for Assessment, Management, and Treatment, edited by Bongar B. New York, Oxford University Press, 1992, pp. 253–267
Lomax JW: A proposed curriculum on suicide care for psychiatry residency. Suicide Life Threat Behav 1986; 16:56–64
Henn RF: Patient suicide as part of psychiatric residency. Am J Psychiatry 1978; 135:745–746
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ellis, T.E., Dickey, T.O. & Jones, E.C. Patient Suicide in Psychiatry Residency Programs. Acad Psychiatry 22, 181–189 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03341922
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03341922