Citation

Soulié T, Bell E, Jenkin G, Sim D, Collings S. Arch. Suicide Res. 2018; ePub(ePub): 1-47.

Affiliation

Suicide and Mental Health Research Group , University of Otago Wellington , New Zealand.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811118.2018.1506844

PMID

30118649

Abstract

Despite its critical role in clinical suicidology, empirical evidence on the nature of countertransference (CT) to patients at risk for suicide (PRS) is lacking. This study aimed to provide a systematic description of CT phenomena to PRS. Psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists completed the Therapist Response Questionnaire (TRQ) online, with reference to a PRS. Factor analysis (n = 267) yielded a seven-factor structure, including 1) entrapped/rejecting, 2) fulfilled/engaging, 3) aroused/reacting, 4) informal/boundary crossing, 5) protective/overinvolvement, 6) ambivalent/inconsistent, and 7) mistreated/controlling. On average, clinicians reported that CT dimensions tended to not apply to them, except for the positively connoted factor. Our findings suggest that patients at risk for suicide elicit specific dimensions of CT. We offer two alternative interpretations of clinicians' CT endorsement patterns.

Language: en

Keywords

Therapist Response Questionnaire (TRQ); countertransference; factor analysis; psychotherapy; suicide