Hostname: page-component-788cddb947-m6qld Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-10-11T12:01:06.890Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A study of consultant psychiatrists' response to patients' suicide

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Eric Kelleher*
Affiliation:
St James' University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
Aisling Campbell
Affiliation:
Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland
*
*Correspondence Email: eric_b_kelleher@hotmail.com

Abstract

Objectives: A patient's suicide is arguably the event of most concern to consultant psychiatrists. Given the rise in the rate of suicide in the Republic of Ireland, the impact it has should not be underestimated. The aims of the study were: to assess the effect a patient's suicide has on a consultant's personal and professional life; to identify what factors modulated or exacerbated their response to the suicide; and to highlight what was shown to be beneficial in coping with the aftermath.

Methods: Following a literature review, a questionnaire from a previous study was chosen. This was sent to 74 consultants working in the Munster province. It asked consultants to recall their ‘most distressing’ suicide and their response to it. The results were analysed using quantitative methodology. A further literature review was conducted on the issues raised.

Results: The questionnaire response rate was 67.5%. A total of 80% of consultants had a patient commit suicide under their care. In the case of 27.5%, consultants said that their personal lives had been affected by the suicide and 32.5% said that their professional lives had been affected. The majority of those affected were recently appointed consultants. Consultants' peers and team were significant sources of support, as were team meetings. A total of 57.5% of consultants said that their management of future suicidal patients had changed following the suicide.

Conclusions: A proportion of consultants experience negative effects in their lives as a consequence of patient suicide. However the support of consultant peers, the team and team meetings may help in the aftermath.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Alexander, DA, Klein, S, Gray, NM, et al.Suicide by patients: questionnaire study of its effect on consultant psychiatrists. BMJ 2000; 320: 15711574.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Dewar, IG, Eagles, JM, Klein, Set al.Psychiatric trainees' experience of, and reactions to, patient suicide. Psychiatric Bull 2000; 24: 2023.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Cryan, EMJ, Kelly, P. McCaffrey, B. The experience of patient suicide among Irish psychiatrists. Psychiatric Bull 1995; 19: 47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Campbell, C, Fahy, T. The role of the doctor when a patient commits suicide. Psychiatric Bull 2002; 26: 4449.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Seaguin, M, Lesage, A, Kiely, MC. Parental bereavement after suicide and accident: a comparative study. Suicide Life Threat Behav 1995; 25(4): 489–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Harwood, D, Hawton, K, Hope, T, Jacoby, R. The grief experience and needs of bereaved relatives and friends of older people dying through suicide: a descriptive and case control study. J Affect Discord 2002; 72(2): 185–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Litman, RE. When patients commit suicide. Am J Psychother 1965; 19: 570576.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Jones, FA. Therapists as survivors of client suicide. In: Dunne, EJ, McIntosh, JL, Dunne-Maxim, K (eds). Suicide and its Aftermath: Understanding and Counselling the Survivors. New York: WW Norton and Company, 1987: 126141.Google Scholar
9.Ruben, HL. Surviving a suicide in your practice. In: Blumenthal, SJ, Kupfer, DJ (eds). Suicide Over the Life Cycle: Risk Factors, Assessment and Treatment of Suicidal Patients. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, 1990: 619636.Google Scholar
10.Kozlowska, K, Nunn, K, Cousins, P. Adverse experiences in psychiatric training: Part 2. Aust NZ J Psychiatry 1997; 31: 641652.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Ness, DE, Pfeiffer, CR. Sequelae of bereavement resulting from suicide. Am J Psychiatry 1990; 147(3): 279285.Google ScholarPubMed
12.Deary, IJ, Agius, RM, Sadler, A. Personality and stress in consultant psychiatrists. Int J Soc Psychiatry 1996; 42: 112123.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Chishti, P, Stone, DH, Corcoran, P, Williamson, E, Petridou, E. EUROSAVE Working Group: Suicide mortality in the European Union. Eur J Public Health 2003; 13: 100114.Google Scholar
14.Kelleher, MJ. Youth suicide trends in the Republic of Ireland. Br J Psychiatry 1998; 173: 196197.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Chemtob, CM, Hamada, RS, Bauer, G, Kinney, B, Torigoe, RY. Patients' suicide: frequency and impact on psychiatrists. Am J Psychiatry 1988; 145: 224228.Google ScholarPubMed
16.Horowitz, M, Wilner, NJ, Alvarez, W. Impact of events scale: A measure of subjective stress. Psychosomatic Med 1979; 41: 209218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17. Irish Medical Directory 2003-2004Google Scholar
18.Morris, M. The aftermath of suicide. Br J Nurs 1995; 4: 205208.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19.Gitlin, MJ. A psychiatrist's reaction to a patient's suicide. Ame J Psychiatry 1999; 156: 10.Google ScholarPubMed
20.Dean, A. Mentors for newly appointed consultants. Adv Psychiatric Treat 2000; 9: 164165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.Binder, R. Dealing with patients' suicides. Ame J Psychiatry 1978; 135(9): 113.Google ScholarPubMed
22.Bartels, SJ. The aftermath of suicide on the psychiatric inpatient unit. Gen Hospital Psychiat 1987; 9: 189197.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23.Hodelet, N, Hughson, M. What to do when a patient commits suicide. Psychiatric Bull 2001; 25: 4345.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24.Foley, SR, Kelly, BD. When a patient dies by suicide: incidence, implications and coping strategies. Adv Psychiatric Treat 2007; 13(2): 134138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
28.Kaye, NS, Soreff, SM. The psychiatrist's role, responses and responsibilities when a patient commits suicide. Am J Psychiatry 1995; 148(6): 739743.Google Scholar