ABSTRACT
The sexual exploitation of patients by therapists is of serious professional, ethical, and legal concern for the mental health professions. The results of a nationwide survey of psychiatrist-patient sex revealed that 7.1 per cent of male and 3.1 per cent of female respondents acknowledged sexual contact with their patients (Gartrell et al. 1986). Of the sexual contacts that occurred, 88 per cent took place between male psychiatrists and female patients, 7.6 per cent between male psychiatrists and male patients, 3.5 per cent between female psychiatrists and male patients, and 1.4 per cent between female psychiatrists and female patients. Most surveys show a consistent gender difference that varies from approximately 2:1 to 4:1 male to female ratio of therapists who sexually exploit their patients.
