A Clinician's Guide to Violence Risk Assessment in Persons with Serious Mental Illness-View Presentation

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Video Summary

In this webinar, hosted by Shireen Khan from Thresholds and featuring Dr. Deb Pinals and Dr. Charles Scott, experts discuss violence risk assessment in individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). The event, eligible for continuing education credits, aims to equip clinicians with tools and insights to better understand and mitigate violence risks associated with SMI.<br /><br />Dr. Pinals and Dr. Scott explore the complexities of violence risk associated with SMI, noting that while most people with mental health issues are not violent, there is a small, increased risk when substance use is involved. They highlight the MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study findings, which emphasize that situational and historical factors, such as substance use and early childhood trauma, are significant risk indicators. Furthermore, the importance of assessing symptoms like command hallucinations and delusions, and the role of trauma, are emphasized as essential components of risk evaluation.<br /><br />The presenters also discuss structured assessment tools and the need for clinicians to understand their limitations and the contexts in which they are effective. They stress that clinical judgment, informed by solid risk assessments, remains crucial in decision-making for potential hospitalizations and care planning.<br /><br />The Q&A session addressed factors like the impact of substance use on violence risk and the interplay between specific psychotic symptoms and violent behavior. The experts also acknowledged the challenges of legal definitions of violence risk and the importance of evaluating treatment adherence and historical behaviors. The webinar underscored the need for ongoing education and tool development to support clinicians in managing violence risk effectively in individuals with SMI.

Keywords

violence risk assessment

serious mental illness

SMI

substance use

MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study

structured assessment tools

clinical judgment

trauma

psychotic symptoms

treatment adherence