@article{ref1,
title="Psychiatrists' emotional reactions to a patient's suicide: A case series",
journal="Rivista di psichiatria",
year="2011",
author="Toffol, Elena and Pilotto, Elisa and Scocco, Paolo",
volume="46",
number="3",
pages="203-207",
abstract="Aim. The aim of this study is to describe the emotional reactions experienced by a group of psychiatrists following the suicidal death of a patient. Methods. The study was carried out between February 2005 and January 2006 within the Mental Health Department of Padova. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to the reference psychiatrist at least two weeks after the suicide of a patient. The aim of the tool was to assess emotional reaction when told about the suicide and when filling in the questionnaire. Results. All the interviewed psychiatrists (n = 11) reported emotions, mostly self-doubt, sadness, disbelief, guilt, fear, shock and helplessness. Some differences were found between residents and consultant psychiatrists. Of the 11 psychiatrists, 7 did not blame anyone for their patient's death, and 6 of them judged the suicide to have been unpreventable. All the therapists sought conversation about the event; a team case review was conducted in 8 cases. Discussion. A patient's suicide is a significant event in a psychiatrist's professional life, particularly among resident psychiatrists. The emotional process only partly overlaps the usual grief process. Discussions with peer/senior colleagues and team case reviews are helpful tools in the grief process of psychiatrists and should become part of the working practice of every Mental Health Department.<p /> <p>Language: it</p>",
language="it",
issn="0035-6484",
doi="10.1708/889.9811",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1708/889.9811"
}