Guidance for Working With a Patient Who Elicits Fear in the Psychiatrist

While it is clear that most societal violence is not due to mental illness, there is conflicting evidence regarding whether mental illness itself increases violence risk.¹ Nonetheless, variables associated with mental illness, particularly substance abuse, have been shown to be predictors of violence.¹ As such, psychiatrists do treat individuals at risk of violence and are at times themselves at risk. The rate of nonfatal violent crime against mental health professionals is more than 5 times that for all occupations.² While underreporting of assaults seems prevalent, more than one-third of psychiatrists report having been physically assaulted at least once, and psychiatrists in training seem particularly vulnerable.²