Appraisal of the event as a factor in coping with malpractice litigation.

The authors designed a study to explore medical malpractice litigation as a stressor, factors that contribute to doctors' appraisal of it, how they actually cope with it, and the potential effects on them and on their mode of practice. We interviewed 51 physicians who had been sued for medical malpractice. Those who identified litigation as their most stressful life event (Group 1, N = 11) experienced significantly more physical and emotional symptoms, especially those suggestive of a major depressive disorder, and used more emotion-focused coping mechanisms than those who identified some other event in life as being most stressful (Group 2, N = 39). The appraisal of litigation as one's most stressful life experience may be a useful predictor of coping response, with previous life experiences as a major contributing factor to this appraisal.