Citation

Kleespies PM, Penk WE, Forsyth JP. Prof. Psychol. Res. Pr. 1993; 24(3): 293-303.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/0735-7028.24.3.293

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study enhances and replicates an earlier study (Kleespies, Smith, & Becker, 1990) on the incidence and impact of patient suicidal behavior on psychology interns/trainees, using a much larger sample, a broader spectrum of patient suicidal behaviors, and more adequate comparison groups. The findings indicate that more than 1: 4 interns/trainees needed to deal with a patient suicide attempt, and that 1: 9 had to cope with a patient suicide completion. Stress level followed a graduated increase in impact with increasing severity of patient suicidal behavior (i.e., from suicidal ideation to suicide attempt to suicide completion). Trainees who had a patient suicide were distinguished from those who experienced patient suicide ideation by significantly greater feelings of shock, disbelief, failure, sadness, self-blame, guilt, shame, and depression.

RESULTS are discussed in terms of the importance of developing mechanisms to assist trainees in anticipating and working through the strong psychological impact of losing a patient through a self-inflicted death.

Language: en