title: Helping psychiatry residents cope with patient suicide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Every clinical specialty has its own high risk patient challenges that threaten to undermine their trainees' professional identity, evolving sense of competence. In psychiatric training, it is patient suicide, an all-too frequently encountered consequence of severe mental illness that may leave the treating resident perplexed, guilt-ridden, and uncertain of their suitability for the profession. This study evaluates a patient suicide training program aimed at educating residents about patient suicide, common reactions, and steps to attenuate emotional distress while facilitating learning.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention was selected aspects of a patient suicide educational program, "Collateral Damages,"-video vignettes, focused discussions, and a patient-based learning exercise. Pre- and post-survey results were compared to assess both knowledge and attitudes resulting from this educational program. Eight psychiatry residency training programs participated in the study, and 167 of a possible 240 trainees (response rate = 69.58 %) completed pre- and post-surveys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge of issues related to patient suicide increased after the program. Participants reported increased awareness of the common feelings physicians and trainees often experience after a patient suicide, of recommended "next" steps, available support systems, required documentation, and the role played by risk management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This patient suicide educational program increased awareness of issues related to patient suicide and shows promise as a useful and long overdue educational program in residency training. It will be useful to learn whether this program enhances patient care or coping with actual patient suicide. Similar programs might be useful for other specialties.
authors.affiliation: Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA, dprabha1@hfhs.org.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prabhakar
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balon
authors.forename: Joan Meyer
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Anzia
authors.forename: Glen O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Gabbard
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lomax
authors.forename: Belinda ShenYu
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Bandstra
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eisen
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.forename: Garton
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theresa
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruble
authors.forename: Andreea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Seritan
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zisook
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*