Threats and assaults against psychiatrists.
L. R. Faulkner, N. R. Grimm, B. H. McFarland and J. D. Bloom,
Bull. Amer. Acad. Psychiatry & the Law
18(1): 37-46, 1990.
In this article, the authors review the literature on surveys pertaining to threats and assaults on
psychiatrists and report the results of a questionnaire sent to Oregon psychiatrists. Although the
responding psychiatrists were experienced clinicians, they appear to have had relatively little life
experience with aggression. Assaults and threats were frequent in their careers, occurred across a
variety of clinical settings, and involved a wide range of patients. The authors discuss specific
strategies for psychiatrists to minimize the effects of patient threats and assaults and suggest ways
in which organized psychiatry can help with the danger and sequelae of patient violence.