Physical Attacks on Psychiatric Residents by Patients

Abstract

Thirty-one psychiatric residents at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center were interviewed to ascertain whether they had been attacked by patients, and if so, under what conditions. Forty-eight per cent reported having been attacked, and most believed an incident frustrating to the patient triggered the attack. Personality characteristics of the residents were related to their being attacked, in that residents who scored high on an interview scale that measured a resident's level of irritability were more likely to be attacked. Implications of the findings are briefly discussed.