A Study of Assaults Against Psychiatric Residents

Abstract

There are few studies of assaults against psychiatric residents. The only two domestic studies specifically investigating assaults against residents each surveyed a single residency program. In the present study, 333 psychiatric residents in 11 training programs in Pennsylvania were surveyed about assaults and threats on them during residency. One hundred fifty-five questionnaires (46%) were completed and returned. Of the respondents, 41 % experienced a physical assault and 48% were threatened at some time during their training. Ten percent of the respondents were assaulted more than once, and 30% of the respondents were threatened more than once. There was no significant correlation between rates of threats or assaults and age, sex, or training sites. The majority of threats and assaults occurred in either an inpatient setting (56%) or a psychiatric emergency service (31%). The authors found that residents were provided with minimal training in aggression management during their residency.