Distress and professional impairment among psychologists in clinical practice.

Abstract

Distress and professional impairment among psychologists in clinical practice can adversely affect the process of psychotherapy. In this study, 522 practicing psychologists (52.2%) completed a mail survey on distress and impairment. Various life events and work factors were associated with different amounts of distress and impairment, with personal relationship problems and work with difficult clients being particularly troublesome. Respondents who experienced a greater number of life events/ work factors also reported greater distress and impairment. Very high positive correlations emerged between distress and impairment for both life events and work factors. Non-work-related activities and periodic vacations were the most frequently reported preventive behaviors.

A longitudinal study of the psychological adaptation of trainee clinical psychologists

“…In a review of the literature on the psychological adaptation of psychologists, Sherman (1996Sherman ( ) con-1997Cushway, et al, 1996;Good et al,1995;Guy et al, 1989;Pope and Tabachnick, 1994;Schwebel and Coster, 1998;Sherman and Thelan, 1998;Thoreson et al, 1989). Further research on the psychological adaptation of clinical psychologists is important for several reasons.…”

Managing the violent patient: A guide for psychologists and other mental health professionals.

“…Psychotherapists' concerns about patient behavior ranged from unwanted calls to physical and verbal attacks on self and loved ones to murder of self and loved ones (Flannery, Hanson, Penk, & Flannery, 1994). Professionals who experience problems or difficulties in their professional lives (i.e., aggressive patients) tend to compromise their abilities to function adequately in their professional roles (Sherman & Thelen, 1998). Young or inexperienced psychologists and other mental health professionals can be considered more at-risk for these detrimental effects than others.…”

“…Research linking safety concerns and professional ability (Sherman & Thelen, 1998) provide evidence of the concern and need for more instruction on violence management. In one study, the most frequent protective measure taken by psychotherapists to protect themselves from patient-initiated physical harm was the refusal to treat certain patients (Guy et al, 1992).…”

Review of Reasons and Remedial Measures for Burnout During Residency Programme

“…35 Creating a defined boundary between work and home has also been strongly suggested in the literature. 36 [47][48][49][50] . Unfortunately, residency coordinator's appears to be the major unacknowledged source of social support for residents during residency training.…”