Rachel Gibbons

• Consultant Psychiatrist at Royal College of Psychiatrists

Aims and method This study aimed to explore the experiences and support requirements of psychiatrists undergoing investigations within their mental health organisation. An anonymous online survey was distributed to all non-training psychiatrists registered as members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Results Of the 815 psychiatrists who respo...

This paper presents an emerging understanding of the psychodynamics of suicide loss, derived from over 1500 accounts of suicide bereavement shared by families, friends and clinicians. It identifies clear patterns in the responses of the bereaved, particularly the formation of delusional narratives that often place them at the centre of blame for th...

This paper summarises themes that have emerged from 14 years of study of suicide and work with those bereaved. It is based on a talk given in many clinical settings over the past 10 years. I describe my own emotional journey following impactful deaths and summarise personal ‘truths’ about suicide that have emerged over time. Case studies used for i...

In recent years, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has been engaged in activities to ensure parity of esteem for mental health within the National Health Service, seeking to bring resources and services more in line with those available for physical health conditions. Central to this has been the promotion of psychiatry as a profession that takes...

Aims and method: To investigate the experiences and support needs of consultant psychiatrists following a patient-perpetrated homicide, an anonymous online survey was sent to all consultant psychiatrists registered as members of the UK's Royal College of Psychiatrists. Results: Of the 497 psychiatrists who responded, 165 (33%) had experienced a...

This article brings together the psychiatric and psychoanalytic views of mental illness to deepen the understanding of mental disorder. The intention is to bring to the fore the importance of loss and mourning in clinical practice. Looking for the loss event that underpins the disorder helps determine therapeutic treatment options and increases the...

There is a lack of support for mental health professionals who experience a patient suicide or homicide. This is despite a high likelihood of such an occurrence and the heavy professional and personal toll the experience can take. We conducted 15 interviews with members of a facilitated peer support group run for consultant psychiatrists who have e...

In the UK, at least a quarter of suicides occurs in patients whilst under the care of mental health services. This study investigated the effects of such deaths on non‐medical mental health clinicians. An online survey was conducted within a single NHS mental health Trust to elicit both quantitative and qualitative responses from staff across a ran...

One of the most challenging experiences psychiatrists will face in their careers may well be the death of a patient by suicide. This is likely to happen at least once during a psychiatrist's career, and often more. It can be an intensely complex and painful event with a wide range of emotional responses. Reflecting on the death and accessing good s...

This comprehensive and highly readable book outlines the main psychological therapies used in contemporary clinical practice. It clearly describes the underlying theoretical principles and techniques and with vivid case examples, demonstrates the central role of these treatments in mental health care. The contribution of psychological and psychodyn...

This comprehensive and highly readable book outlines the main psychological therapies used in contemporary clinical practice. It clearly describes the underlying theoretical principles and techniques and with vivid case examples, demonstrates the central role of these treatments in mental health care. The contribution of psychological and psychodyn...

This comprehensive and highly readable book outlines the main psychological therapies used in contemporary clinical practice. It clearly describes the underlying theoretical principles and techniques and with vivid case examples, demonstrates the central role of these treatments in mental health care. The contribution of psychological and psychodyn...

This comprehensive and highly readable book outlines the main psychological therapies used in contemporary clinical practice. It clearly describes the underlying theoretical principles and techniques and with vivid case examples, demonstrates the central role of these treatments in mental health care. The contribution of psychological and psychodyn...

This comprehensive and highly readable book outlines the main psychological therapies used in contemporary clinical practice. It clearly describes the underlying theoretical principles and techniques and with vivid case examples, demonstrates the central role of these treatments in mental health care. The contribution of psychological and psychodyn...

Anorexia nervosa is the psychiatric disorder with the highest mortality rate. Anorexic patients admitted to inpatient eating disorder units are often critically unwell in both their physical and mental health. Underpinning working with these patients is a real feeling that they are close to death. Staff, and particularly nurses, in eating disorder...

Authors’ reply - Volume 44 Issue 2 - Rachel Gibbons, Fiona Brand, Anne Carbonnier, Alison Croft, Karen Lascelles, Gislene Wolfart, Keith Hawton

Aims and method Death of patients by suicide can have powerful effects on psychiatrists. We report the findings of a survey completed by 174 psychiatrists on the effects of patient suicide on their emotional well-being and clinical practice, and the support and resources they felt would be helpful. Results and clinical implications The death of a...

Background People with schizophrenia face prejudice and discrimination from a number of sources including professionals and families. The degree of stigma perceived and experienced varies across cultures and communities. We aimed to develop a cross-cultural measure of the stigma perceived by people with schizophrenia. Method Items for the scale we...

Objective No instrument has been developed and validated across cultures to measure the degree of support provided by informal carers to people with schizophrenia. We aimed to develop such a measure. Method The Maristan Scale of Informal Care was developed directly from the views of patients with schizophrenia in six countries. Face-to-face intervi...

There is little research into the constituents of effective psychiatric inpatient care. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a newly adopted model of inpatient care; the acute assessment ward. Review of data collected over a year-long period. Acute assessment ward in North London. All Admissions between 8 October 2009 and 7 Octo...