The Impact of Successfully Completed Suicides on Psychiatric Residents

The authors report the results of unstructured interviews with 5 psychiatric residents who treated patients who successfully committed suicide. Residents demonstrated feelings of guilt & anger which could engender countertransference hatred toward subsequent suicidal patients. Residents, therefore, must be provided with an opportunity to ventilate their feelings. The authors also report that the experience results in the resident becoming a more cautious & independent clinician. (2 refs.)