Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | The psychological impact of adolescent suicidality on child and adolescent psychiatrists in training: A qualitative study |
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| Contribution code | D3.171 |
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| Form of presentation | Poster |
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| Abstract |
Aims The complexity of psychiatric disorders in adolescence makes the experience of child and adolescent’s psychiatrists in training particularly challenging. The exposure of these young doctors to adolescent suicidal issues (self-harm, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts) has increased in recent years and its psychological effects are still largely unexplored. Our work aimed to examine the psychological experience of a group of child and adolescent psychiatry trainees in dealing with adolescent suicidal patients, with a focus on difficulties and coping resources. Methods Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with child and adolescent’s psychiatrist trainees (14, female, mean age=28 years, SD=2.5) working in a large pediatric university hospital in the North-West of Italy. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed through thematic analysis with Atlas.ti software. Results and conclusions Shock, sadness and anxiety are the most reported emotions when dealing with adolescent suicidal patients, along with anger and frustration often related to inexperience. The difficulty of establishing a genuine empathic relationship with adolescent patients is prominent . Closeness of age with patients is perceived both as a resource and a difficulty. Many participants recognize the difficulties in communicating with parents avoiding judgmental attitudes toward them. All these difficulties can cause emotional exhaustion and negatively affect the vision of one's personal and professional future. Colleagues and superiors are a powerful resource in coping with difficulties, although lack of structured supervision and professional support is highlighted. These findings underscore the need for attentive tutoring, supervision and psychological support for young psychiatrists in training, in order to buffer the strong emotional effect of exposure to adolescent's suicidality. |