Emotional impact and therapeutic changes due to patient´s suicide

ENZO GUZZO; FERNANDO TARAGANO; ANDRÉS RAGUSA; SILVINA HEISECKE; KARINA CHIMERA; HUGO KRUPITZKI

Amsterdam

Congreso; 18th Annual Conference of The International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD16) held jointly with the 8th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Affective Disorders (ISAD 2016); 2016

International Society for Bipolar Disorders

Objectives To explore the attitude of health professionals regarding emotional impact and therapeutic behavior changes because of the suicide of their patients.MethodsSince July to September 2014, a nationwide survey was conducted through the Survey Monkey tool. Health professionals registered in the CEMIC University Institute Department of Psychiatry data base were invited to respond by e-mail using the Doppler Email Marketing system. The survey was anonymous and confidential. A total of 250 responses were obtained: 64% were from female professionals. Specialties distribution was: psychiatrists 42.9%, non-psychiatry physicians 22.4%, psychologists 20.8%, and other health professionals 13.9%.ResultsFrom total professionals, 50.6% had patients under treatment who committed suicide; 62.5% of them were psychiatrists.The professional group who experienced patient?s suicide, was evaluated through the Impact of Event Horowitz Scale. The mean group score was 19.6 (Low Intensity), being higher for women (21.2) compared to men (18.1). Only a difference was found in the 20-29 years age group, where the score was moderate (29.0).Although 41.5% professionals reported a negative impact on their physical or mental health after the suicide of a patient, only 11.5% made treatment due to the fact.A change in their clinical practice after a patient?s suicide was reported by 58.9% of professionals. Main reported changes were "More inquire about suicidal ideation" during medical evaluation, and "More interdisciplinary work" during treatment. Many health professionals (77.7%) stated they did not receive sufficient training about suicide.ConclusionsPrevalence of patient?s suicide among professionals answering our survey was similar as the reported in previous studies.Patient?s suicide has consequences that can be objectively measured by adequate instruments. Its impact was mild in our surveyed professionals, as measured by the Horowitz Scale.