The impact of patients suicide on the mental health of psychotherapists

Abstract

Abstract A great number of psychotherapists and psychiatrists experience at least one patient suicide during their career. This study aims to build upon previous research findings concerning the impact of experienced patient suicide on the mental health of practicing and trainee psychotherapists in a German sample. A central aspect involves examining the temporal development of perceived distress and identifying short- and long-term emotional effects of suicide through a mixed methods approach to derive corresponding implications for postvention. The online survey revealed relatively low levels of symptoms on the administered PTSD scale. Nevertheless, a subset of participants reported clinically significant symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Particularly intense feelings of grief, shock, and horror also play a prominent role. Suicide leads to psychotherapists experiencing fear when assessing suicidal patients. Factors that could influence the extent of the impact of suicide include the patient-therapist relationship, lack of support, perception of suicide as violent, and its unpredictability. These factors continue to require exploration to gain a comprehensive understanding of their effects following patient suicide.