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

February 11, 2026 updated by: Melisa BULUT, Abant Izzet Baysal University

The Prevalence, Causes, and Prevention Strategies of Medical Malpractice in Psychiatric Clinics: A Descriptive and Correlational Study

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.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

This study was designed as a descriptive, cross-sectional investigation to examine experiences, perceptions, and attitudes related to medical malpractice in psychiatric practice in Turkey. Given the sensitive nature of malpractice-related experiences and the potential reluctance of healthcare professionals to disclose such information, an anonymous online data collection approach was employed. The study targeted healthcare professionals working in inpatient psychiatric settings and aimed to capture real-world experiences related to malpractice, including exposure to malpractice events, perceived contributing factors, and professional attitudes toward malpractice in psychiatric care.

Data were collected using structured, researcher-developed questionnaires administered online. The instruments were designed to assess participants' demographic and professional characteristics, as well as their knowledge, attitudes, and observations regarding malpractice in psychiatric settings. To reduce response bias and encourage participation, questions were framed to focus on observed or experienced malpractice events rather than direct self-attribution. Due to the difficulty of accessing this population and the sensitivity of the topic, a non-probability snowball sampling approach was used. Participants who met the study criteria and consented to participate were invited to complete the online survey, and they were encouraged to share the survey with eligible colleagues. The study aimed to provide an overview of malpractice-related experiences in psychiatric clinics and to identify common themes and influencing factors that may inform future preventive strategies, professional training, and policy development in mental health care.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

180

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Bolu
      • Bolu, Bolu, Turkey (Türkiye), 141000
        • Faculty of Health Sciences

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

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.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 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.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Working in a child and adolescent psychiatry clinic

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
malpractice frequency
Time Frame: Baseline
The frequency of encountering malpractice cases among professionals working in psychiatric clinics
Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
causes of malpractice
Time Frame: Baseline
Perceptions of professionals working in psychiatric clinics about the causes of malpractice cases
Baseline
prevention strategies of medical malpractice
Time Frame: Baseline
Perceptions of professionals working in psychiatric clinics about the prevention strategies of medical malpractice
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Abant Izzet Baysal University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Melisa Bulut, RN, PhD, Bolu abant Izzet Baysal University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 17, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

December 17, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 18, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 11, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • AIBU-PSK-MB-03

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

May be made available upon request for appropriate data.Otherwise, the data will not be shared in the publication.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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