In a nationwide survey of U.S. psychiatrists, 7.1% (N = 1,057) of the
male and 3.1% (N = 257) of the female respondents acknowledged sexual
contact with their own patients. Eighty-eight percent of the sexual
contacts occurred between male psychiatrists and female patients. All
offenders who had been involved with more than one patient were male.
Forty-one percent of the offending psychiatrists sought consultation
because of their sexual involvement with patients. The authors compare
these results with those of previous surveys of psychiatrists and
psychologists and discuss the need for addressing this problem within the
psychiatric profession.Abstract Teaser