Dr. Wilkie is Chief, Division of Forensic Psychiatry, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Associate Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Jones is Medical Lead, Research and Fellowships (Forensic Division), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Associate Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Ramshaw is Forensic Psychiatry Staff Psychiatrist, Forensic Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Associate Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Glancy is Professor and Director, Division of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Groat is Research Coordinator, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Chatterjee is Person in Charge, Forensic Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Director, Forensic Psychiatry Subspecialty Program, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2024 Mar 11;52(1):41-50. doi: 10.29158/JAAPL.230078-23.
The experience of burnout in forensic psychiatrists has not been well studied, with most studies focusing on the experiences of forensic nurses, the impact of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue in forensic mental health professionals, and the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder related to workplace exposures. This study reports on a national survey (34% response rate) conducted with forensic psychiatrists across Canada to understand the rate of, and contributors to, burnout and professional fulfillment. Just over half of the physician respondents reported experiencing burnout, which is in line with other recent surveys in Canada that have indicated elevated levels of burnout since the onset of the pandemic. The highest rates were found among early-career psychiatrists and those whose values did not align with their workplace. Intellectual stimulation, the interface with the legal system, and flexibility in one's job were all strongly linked with professional fulfillment. The goal of this survey was not only to identify rates and variables affecting burnout and wellness in this population but also to expand the dialogue on potential interventions at institutional and systems levels that can reduce burnout, promote professional fulfillment, and enhance recruitment and retention in the field of forensic psychiatry.
在法医精神病学家中，职业倦怠的经历尚未得到充分研究，大多数研究都集中在法医护士的经验、替代性创伤和法医心理健康专业人员的同情疲劳的影响，以及与工作场所暴露相关的创伤后应激障碍的风险上。本研究报告了一项在加拿大各地进行的法医精神病学家的全国性调查（响应率为 34%），以了解倦怠和职业成就感的发生率和促成因素。超过一半的医生受访者报告经历了倦怠，这与加拿大最近的其他调查一致，表明自大流行开始以来，倦怠水平有所升高。在职业早期的精神病学家和那些价值观与工作场所不一致的人中，倦怠率最高。智力刺激、与法律系统的接口以及工作的灵活性都与职业成就感密切相关。这项调查的目的不仅是确定这一人群中倦怠和健康的发生率和变量，而且还要扩大关于机构和系统层面潜在干预措施的对话，这些干预措施可以减少倦怠，促进职业成就感，并加强法医精神病学领域的招聘和留用。
