[The vulnerable clinician: hidden anxieties in psychiatric practice]

Professional anxieties in psychiatric practice are often insufficiently recognized and infrequently discussed, despite their potentially significant impact on the quality of care.

To examine these less visible forms of anxiety and their influence on professional functioning.

A narrative review based on relevant literature and clinical observations from psychotherapeutic practice.

A typology of five categories of professional anxiety is identified: fear of making mistakes, fear of powerlessness, fear of aggression, system-related fears, and existential anxiety. These anxieties appear closely intertwined with defensive medicine, professional isolation, and an increased risk of burnout – factors that generally do not contribute to patient safety.

Articulating and discussing professional uncertainty is essential for fostering an environment of psychological safety. A layered approach – at the individual, team, and organizational levels – is necessary to acknowledge these anxieties without pathologizing them.