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Related Experiment Videos

Problems in psychotherapy with suicidal patients.

Herbert Hendin1, Ann Pollinger Haas, John T Maltsberger

  • 1American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 120 Wall St., 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10005, USA. hhendin@afsp.org

The American Journal of Psychiatry
|January 5, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Therapists face six common issues when treating suicidal patients, including communication problems and avoidance of sensitive topics. Better education is needed for mental health professionals working with this vulnerable population.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Psychotherapy
  • Mental Health

Background:

  • Suicidal patients present unique challenges in psychotherapy.
  • Understanding recurrent problems is crucial for improving treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify common difficulties encountered by therapists treating suicidal patients.
  • To examine cases of patients who died by suicide during psychotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 36 cases of patients who died by suicide during treatment.
  • Therapist questionnaires (clinical, medication, psychological) and detailed case narratives.
  • Case presentations and identification of critical problems in a workshop setting.

Main Results:

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  • Six recurrent problem areas identified: poor inter-therapist communication, patient/family control of therapy, avoidance of sexual issues, therapist anxiety-driven actions, failure to recognize patient communication, and undertreated symptoms.
  • These issues highlight significant challenges in managing suicidal patients.
  • Specific examples include communication breakdowns and avoidance of critical therapeutic topics.

Conclusions:

  • The study illuminates prevalent issues therapists face with suicidal patients.
  • There is an identified need for enhanced education for psychiatrists and mental health professionals.
  • Improving therapist training is essential for better care of suicidal individuals.