The 12-month prevalence of patient-initiated aggression against psychiatrists: a New Zealand national survey.
OBJECTIVE
We surveyed the prevalence of various types of threats or assaults by patients against psychiatrists and determined the impact of the most distressing event.


METHODS
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.
Gale
Christopher
C
Department of Psychological Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. christopher.gale@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Arroll
Bruce
B
Coverdale
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017406:Sexual Harassment; D012919:Social Behavior; D055807:Stalking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data