BOUNDARY VIOLATIONS AND DEPARTMENTS OF PSYCHIATRY

Objective: To explore a number of issues related to boundary violation s in psychiatry, including the relationship between the individual phy sician and his or her patient and broader issues related to various di lemmas arising in academic departments of psychiatry. Method: Several potentially troublesome scenarios are presented and discussed in the c ontexts of 1) the doctor-patient relationship, 2) sexual boundary viol ations, and 3) nonsexual forms of exploitation, such as finances, conf identiality, dual relationships, and relationships with industry. Conc lusions: A number of examples of boundary problems involving psychiatr ists have been explored, and although some of these behaviours are cle arly forbidden and harmful, others are less clear and require careful consideration if the profession is to arrive at a thoughtful consensus .