THREATS AGAINST CLINICIAN - A PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTIVE CLASSIFICATION

Threats against psychiatrists are common, but existing studies on the subject lack descriptive information about the nature and resolution o f the threat, In the present study, clinicians who had received threat s were interviewed in person or by telephone, and case histories were summarized, Threats were classified as situational and transferential, Demographic factors, precipitating events, and legal actions taken ar e described. The manner in which clinicians reacted to threats is also discussed.