[Therapist's reactions on the treatment of suicidal patients]

In the present study, we describe fourteen therapists' reactions (Avoidance, Rejection, Suicidal collusion, Over-involvement, Overprotection, Loss of patients' responsibilities, Loss of therapists' responsibilities, Reaction to the feeling of being exploited, Creation of dependency, Manipolatory acting out, Feeling of undergoing an iniquity, Patients psychopathology inflation, Therapists' psychopathology inflation, Suicidal Burnout Syndrome), based on emotions, behaviors and cognitivity, toward patients with suicidal risk. These responses can interfere with a correct assessment and management of suicidal risk in psychiatric patients. The purpose of the present clinical study was to improve therapist's professional skills through the recognition and management of his own responses to suicidal patients.