Abstract
In this article, the authors review the literature on surveys pertaining to threats and assaults on psychiatrists and report the results of a questionnaire sent to Oregon psychiatrists. Although the responding psychiatrists were experienced clinicians, they appear to have had relatively little life experience with aggression. Assaults and threats were frequent in their careers, occurred across a variety of clinical settings, and involved a wide range of patients. The authors discuss specific strategies for psychiatrists to minimize the effects of patient threats and assaults and suggest ways in which organized psychiatry can help with the danger and sequelae of patient violence.
Footnotes
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Dr. Faulkner is professor of psychiatry and director of psychiatric education, Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU). Dr. Grimm is clinical associate professor of psychiatry, OHSU, and has a private practice of psychiatry, Portland, OR. Dr. McFarland is assistant professor of psychiatry and director, Western Mental Health Research Center, OHSU. Dr. Bloom is professor and chairman, Department of Psychiatry, OHSU. Presented in part as the Brian Buss Memorial Lecture, 50th Annual Meeting of the North Pacific Society of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Neurosurgery, Newport, Oregon, March 15–19, 1989, and at the 20th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Washington, DC, October 19–22, 1989. Address reprint requests to Dr. Faulkner, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland. OR 97201.
- Copyright © 1990, The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
