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  • Title: The 12-month prevalence of patient-initiated aggression against psychiatrists: a New Zealand national survey.
    Author: Gale C, Arroll B, Coverdale J.
    Journal: Int J Psychiatry Med; 2009; 39(1):79-87. PubMed ID: 19650531.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVES: We surveyed the prevalence of various types of threats or assaults by patients against psychiatrists and determined the impact of the most distressing event. METHOD: An anonymous questionnaire was mailed to all 308 vocationally registered psychiatrists practicing in New Zealand. RESULTS: A response rate of 63.9% (n = 197) was obtained. In the preceding 12 months, as many as 46% (n = 89) of respondents had been verbally threatened and 39% (n = 76) had been physically intimidated by patients. In addition 16% (n = 32) had been assaulted without requiring medical attention, 14% (n = 27) had been harassed through formal complaint mechanisms, 10% (n = 20) had been sexually harassed, and 5% (n = 9) had been stalked. As indicated by responses on the Impact of Event Scale, only one-third of the psychiatrists had any symptoms related to the most distressing event and only two had symptoms that might be associated with clinically significant levels of distress. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of these events suggest a need for the development and evaluation of preventive interventions.
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