Psychiatric HospitalizationNCT07405411
The Prevalence, Causes, and Prevention Strategies of Medical Malpractice in Psychiatric Clinics
An observational study of Psychiatric Hospitalization and Patient Safety, run by Abant Izzet Baysal University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Psychiatric Hospitalization, Patient Safety
- How many people
- 180 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2023to 17 Dec 2023
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
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.
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- Working in a child and adolescent psychiatry clinic
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: 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.
Read the 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.
- Conditions
- Psychiatric Hospitalization, Patient Safety
- Keywords
- malpractice, medical practice errors, psychiatry, patient safety
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
malpractice frequency
The frequency of encountering malpractice cases among professionals working in psychiatric clinics
Measured: Baseline
Secondary outcomes (2)
causes of malpractice
Perceptions of professionals working in psychiatric clinics about the causes of malpractice cases
Measured: Baseline
prevention strategies of medical malpractice
Perceptions of professionals working in psychiatric clinics about the prevention strategies of medical malpractice
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Feb 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2023
- Primary completion17 Dec 2023
- Study completion17 Dec 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Psychiatric HospitalizationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Abant Izzet Baysal UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 180 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Abant Izzet Baysal University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Melisa BULUT, Abant Izzet Baysal University
- Investigators
- Melisa Bulut, RN, PhD, Principal investigator, Abant Izzet Baysal University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07405411
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- AIBU-PSK-MB-03
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 13 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: May be made available upon request for appropriate data.Otherwise, the data will not be shared in the publication.
Publications
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.
PubMed 34505366Dhadphale MR. Psychiatrist facing litigation. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(4):405-408. doi: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_316_17.
PubMed 31391646Aaron 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.
PubMed 40009364Frierson 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.
PubMed 32047377Reuveni 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.
PubMed 28320795
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Prevalence, Causes, and Prevention Strategies of Medical Malpractice in Psychiatric Clinics: A Descriptive and Correlational Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07405411
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AIBU-PSK-MB-03
- Conditions
- Psychiatric Hospitalization, Patient Safety
- Keywords
- malpractice, medical practice errors, psychiatry, patient safety
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 180 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Abant Izzet Baysal UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 17 Dec 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 17 Dec 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 12 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
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 design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- 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.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Working in a child and adolescent psychiatry clinic
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
malpractice frequency
Time frame: Baseline
The frequency of encountering malpractice cases among professionals working in psychiatric clinics
2 secondary outcomes
causes of malpractice
Time frame: Baseline
prevention strategies of medical malpractice
Time frame: Baseline
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Feb 2026.
- Background: PubMed 34505366Appelbaum 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.
- Background: PubMed 31391646Dhadphale MR. Psychiatrist facing litigation. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(4):405-408. doi: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_316_17.
- Background: PubMed 40009364Aaron 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.
- Background: PubMed 32047377Frierson 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.
- Background: PubMed 28320795Reuveni 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.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. May be made available upon request for appropriate data.Otherwise, the data will not be shared in the publication.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Melisa Bulut, RN, PhD principal investigator
Abant Izzet Baysal University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Psychiatric Hospitalization and Patient Safety, run by Abant Izzet Baysal University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
malpractice frequency (time frame: Baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07405411, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Feb 2026.