Citation

Goldblatt MJ, Ronningstam E, Herbstman B, Schechter M. Scand. Psychoanal. Rev. 2020; 43(2): 78-86.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, University Press of Southern Denmark)

DOI

10.1080/01062301.2021.1892905

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

When a patient dies by suicide while in treatment, there are a wide range of reactions from therapists involved in the patient's treatment. Intrapsychic, interpersonal and systemic responses sustain or impair the bereavement process. At times this loss can be experienced traumatically such that it interferes with the therapist's grieving process and undermines their capacity to mourn and grow. In this paper we discuss the therapist's experience of the patient's suicide as a traumatic loss that challenges the coping defenses and affects bereavement and growth. © 2021 The Scandinavian Psychoanalytic Review.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; trauma; psychotherapy; depression; major depression; suicidal behavior; hospitalization; bereavement; posttraumatic stress disorder; mood disorder; hopelessness; loss; shame; psychiatric department; anxiety disorder; coping behavior; grief; survivor; guilt; self esteem; peer review; social worker; agitation; counter transference; patient; private practice; Article; involuntary commitment; professional competence; psychotherapist attitude; powerlessness; Patient suicide; confusion (uncertainty); problem patient