The Caregiver&’s Reactions After Suicide of A Patient

Abstract

Examined the reactions of 87 psychologists and psychiatrists who experienced the suicide of a patient, 75 general practitioners (GPs) who had experienced the suicide of a patient, and 75 GPs who had experienced the death of a patient. Ss completed a questionnaire regarding their emotional reactions after suicide or death. Results showed similarities between the experience of the psychotherapists and GPs losing their patient by suicide. As a result of the event the caregivers became more cautious with other patients and were preoccupied with the loss, even to the extent that they brought their feelings about it to their own families. More psychotherapists than GPs felt guilty after the suicide; they were also more likely to speak to a supervisor about their feelings and to have had problems showing feelings toward colleagues. There were no significant differences between GPs who had lost a patient through suicide and those who had lost a patient through natural death. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)