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Psychiatrists and homicidal threats: a cross-sectional study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2021

Musaab Elzain ,
Ahmed Bashir ,
Noreen Moloney ,
Colum P. Dunne ,
Brendan D. Kelly  and
Gautam Gulati Open the ORCID record for Gautam Gulati [Opens in a new window]
Musaab Elzain*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Mid-West Mental Health Service, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Ahmed Bashir
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Mid-West Mental Health Service, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Noreen Moloney
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Mid-West Mental Health Service, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Colum P. Dunne
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Brendan D. Kelly
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Gautam Gulati
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Mid-West Mental Health Service, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: M. Elzain, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Objectives:

To investigate the frequency, characteristics and impact of death threats by patients towards psychiatrists.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey of psychiatrists (n = 60) was undertaken to investigate the frequency, characteristics and impact of death threats by patients in one Irish healthcare region serving a mixed urban–rural population of 470,000.

Results:

Forty-nine responses (82%) were received. Thirty-one per cent of respondents experienced death threats by patients during their careers. Victims were more likely to be male and in a consultant role. Patients making the threats were more likely to be males aged 30–60 with a history of violence and diagnosis of personality disorder and/or substance misuse. A majority of threats occurred in outpatient settings and identified a specific method of killing, usually by stabbing. Prosecution of the perpetrator was uncommon. Of the victimised psychiatrists, 53% reported that such threats affected their personal lives, and 67% believed their professional lives were impacted. In half of the incidents, there were adverse incidents subsequent to the threats, involving either the patient or the clinician.

Conclusions:

Death threats by patients have significant psychological and professional impacts on psychiatrists. Early liaison with employers and police and transferring the care of the patient to another clinician may be useful measures.

Keywords

Death threatdoctorspsychiatristsviolence
Type
Short Report
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 40 , Issue 3 , September 2023 , pp. 445 - 449
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

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