Citation

Scocco P, Corinto B, Pavan L. Clin. Neuropsychiatry 2008; 5(5): 240-244.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Giovanni Fioriti Editore)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: An attempted suicide is accompanied by an emotional reaction not only in the attempter but also in significant others, including health providers. We compared emotional reaction to attempted suicide in a group of attempters and their attending psychiatrists.

METHOD: A questionnaire-based interview was administered to a sample of 10 patients admitted to a psychiatric facility for attempted suicide and 10 psychiatrists (senior or resident psychiatrists) treating them prior to the act.

RESULTS: The emotions most frequently reported by the therapists were frustration, sadness and impotence. Those expressed by the patients were: anger, despair, loneliness, sadness, shame, nervousness/irritation and impotence.

CONCLUSIONS: This small sample showed that patients expressed a wide range of feelings. The resident psychiatrists reported a higher number of emotional manifestations than did their senior colleagues. Guilt and shame were not expressed by the psychiatrists, although a sense of reparative guilt transpired from some responses. © 2008 Giovanni Fioriti Editore s.r.l.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; Emotions; female; male; aged; Therapeutic relationship; pilot study; anger; loneliness; suicide attempt; Attempted suicide; hopelessness; shame; article; controlled study; questionnaire; psychiatrist; clinical article; doctor patient relation; irritability; frustration; emotionality; nervousness; professional competence; Feelings; Resident psychiatrists