Psychiatrist-patient sexual contact: results of a national survey, II: Psychiatrists' attitudes
Abstract
In a national random-sample survey of 1,423 practicing psychiatrists, the overwhelming majority of the respondents (98%) said that therapist- patient sexual contact is always inappropriate and usually harmful to the patient. However, 29.6% said that such contact after termination of therapy might sometimes be acceptable. Psychiatrists who acknowledged having had sexual contact with one or more patients (N = 84) differed markedly from their peers in their attitudes. The majority (74%) of these offenders believed that sexual contact could be appropriate after termination; many apparently rationalized their behavior in this manner. The authors discuss the need for systematic professional education on the subject.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).
