THE STRESS OF PATIENT SUICIDAL-BEHAVIOR DURING CLINICAL-TRAINING - INCIDENCE, IMPACT, AND RECOVERY

This study enhances and replicates an earlier study (Kleespies, Smith, & Becker, 1990) on the incidence and impact of patient suicidal behav ior on psychology interns/trainees, using a much larger sample, a broa der spectrum of patient suicidal behaviors, and more adequate comparis on groups. The findings indicate that more than 1:4 interns/trainees n eeded to deal with a patient suicide attempt, and that 1:9 had to cope with a patient suicide completion. Stress level followed a graduated increase in impact with increasing severity of patient suicidal behavi or (ie., from suicidal ideation to suicide attempt to suicide completi on). Trainees who had a patient suicide were distinguished from those who experienced patient suicide ideation by significantly greater feel ings of shock, disbelief, failure, sadness, self-blame, guilt, shame, and depression. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of de veloping mechanisms to assist trainees in anticipating and working thr ough the strong psychological impact of losing a patient through a sel f-inflicted death.