Survey of threats and assaults directed toward psychotherapists

Abstract

Of the psychotherapists sampled, 14.22 percent indicated that they had been assaulted and 35.55 percent indicated that they had been threatened by patients. Female therapists were assaulted proportionately less than males. Prediction of such incidents is extremely poor. Of patients who have attacked or threatened therapists, 75 percent have a history of violent behavior; 35 percent of those who have threatened therapists have a history of suicide threats or attempts. The majority of therapists (93%) allow expression of anger by their patients, while only 50 percent of therapists allow themselves to express anger. Inexperienced therapists were assaulted more often than those with experience of more than 11 years. After assaults, 23 percent of therapists transferred their patients to another therapist. External objects were seldom used in assaults. Therapists felt that their best defense was to handle the situation intuitively.