title: Boundary violations and personality traits among psychiatrists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate that sexual abuse of patients by psychiatrists can be due to a variety of contributors, which may include therapists' psychopathic and narcissistic personality styles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a prospective cohort of residents training in psychiatry were examined to evaluate the personality traits of 2 psychiatrists subsequently convicted of boundary violations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2 psychiatrists who lost their licenses were identifiable at the beginning of their residency training as individuals with significant character pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For some psychiatrists, repetitive sexual abuse of patients represents one aspect of an ongoing pattern of exploitative relationships. The professional and ethical implications of these findings as they relate to early identification for those at risk are considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Garfinkel
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bagby
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Waring
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dorian
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D008950:MMPI / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010815:Physician Impairment / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*