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

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The document is a comprehensive guide to evaluating violence risk among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), developed by the American Psychiatric Association. It serves as a resource for clinicians involved in risk assessment, aiming to enhance their understanding of the challenges, research, and clinical strategies related to violence risk in this population. <br /><br />Key objectives of the guide include: describing the challenges faced by clinicians in violence risk assessment; discussing studies linking serious mental illness and violence; and outlining clinical approaches to violence risk assessment and interventions. The document identifies various clinical contexts where such assessments are significant, such as emergency rooms, psychiatric units, and outpatient clinics.<br /><br />A significant emphasis is placed on differentiating between risk prediction and risk assessment, noting that the latter involves understanding magnitude, imminence, likelihood, and frequency of potential violence. The guide highlights the impact of co-occurring substance abuse as a major risk factor, the relevance of historical and demographic factors, and underscores the importance of understanding command hallucinations and delusions in violence risk.<br /><br />The guide also discusses structured risk assessment tools such as the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) and Historical Clinical Risk Management-20 (HCR-20), which clinicians can employ to better evaluate risk factors and tailor interventions. Empirical studies are cited, revealing that most individuals with SMI are not inherently violent, and that various factors, including trauma and substance abuse, significantly elevate risk levels.<br /><br />Overall, the document serves as a practical tool for clinicians, combining research insights with clinical guidelines to navigate the complexities of violence risk assessment in SMI patients. Additionally, it includes information on educational webinars, opportunities for continuing education credit, and resources for further learning through the SMI Adviser platform.

Keywords

violence risk assessment

serious mental illness

American Psychiatric Association

clinical strategies

risk prediction

substance abuse

command hallucinations

VRAG

HCR-20

SMI Adviser