Patients' reactions to the suicide of their psychiatrist.

The five patients who were in psychotherapy with a psychiatrist who killed herself were interviewed 10 months after the suicide about their reactions to the event. At the time of the suicide most patients felt lost and angry as well as demoralized and alienated from the clinic where they had been treated. To some degree each patient felt responsible for her death and several experienced considerable difficulty related to the suicide in their subsequent psychotherapy. Suggestions for management are offered.