The Prevalence, Causes, and Prevention Strategies of Medical Malpractice in Psychiatric Clinics

NCT07405411 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: AIBU-PSK-MB-03
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 180
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Malpractice in psychiatry is the failure of mental health professionals to meet accepted standards of care, resulting in harm to patients. While considered less risky than other specialties, the nature of psychiatry presents unique challenges and legal risks. This descriptive and cross-sectional study investigated the frequency, influencing factors, and attitudes regarding medical malpractice among psychiatrists, residents, and nurses in psychiatric clinics in Turkey. Data was collected online via snowball sampling.

Conditions

Psychiatric Hospitalization; Patient Safety

Keywords

malpractice; medical practice errors; psychiatry; patient safety

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• malpractice frequency

  The frequency of encountering malpractice cases among professionals working in psychiatric clinics

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• causes of malpractice

  Baseline

• prevention strategies of medical malpractice

  Baseline

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study recruited 180 participants (n=180), including psychiatrists, resident physicians continuing their psychiatric training, nurses, and psychiatric nurses working in psychiatric clinics in Turkey.

You may qualify if:

• Working as a psychiatrist, assistant physician, or clinical nurse in any inpatient psychiatric service in Turkey,
• Having at least one year of experience in a psychiatric clinic
• Volunteering to participate in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• Working in a child and adolescent psychiatry clinic

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Abant Izzet Baysal University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Health Sciences

Bolu, Bolu, 141000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (5)

• Appelbaum PS. Malpractice claims in psychiatry: approaches to reducing risk. World Psychiatry. 2021 Oct;20(3):438-439. doi: 10.1002/wps.20907. No abstract available.

  PMID: 34505366 BACKGROUND

• Dhadphale MR. Psychiatrist facing litigation. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(4):405-408. doi: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_316_17.

  PMID: 31391646 BACKGROUND

• Aaron DG, Robertson CT, King LP, Sage WM. A New Legal Standard for Medical Malpractice. JAMA. 2025 Feb 26. doi: 10.1001/jama.2025.0097. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 40009364 BACKGROUND

• Frierson RL, Joshi KG. Malpractice Law and Psychiatry: An Overview. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2019 Oct;17(4):332-336. doi: 10.1176/appi.focus.20190017. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

  PMID: 32047377 BACKGROUND

• Reuveni I, Pelov I, Reuveni H, Bonne O, Canetti L. Cross-sectional survey on defensive practices and defensive behaviours among Israeli psychiatrists. BMJ Open. 2017 Mar 20;7(3):e014153. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014153.

  PMID: 28320795 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Melisa Bulut, RN, PhD

  Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assistant PhD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 18, 2025
• First Posted: February 12, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 17, 2023
• Study Completion: December 17, 2023
• Last Updated: February 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

TU (1)