Lecture 7 - Risk Assessment

Question 1

Read blue text on page 1-2 of G doc notes.

Answer 1

Understand?

Question 2

What are four methods used for risk assessment?

Answer 2

• Clinical Judgement
• Actuarial measures
• Structured professional judgement (SPJ)
• Formulation-based approach (if we have time!)

Question 3

Describe properties of clinical judgement and describe studies that study this.

Answer 3

See purple text on page 2-4 of G doc notes.

Question 4

Describe properties of actuarial measures and describe studies that study this.

Answer 4

See orange text on page 4-7 of G doc notes.

Question 5

Describe properties of structured professional judgement and describe studies that study this.

Answer 5

See green text on page 7-10 of G doc notes.

Question 6

Describe properties of formulation based approach and describe studies that study this.

Answer 6

See red text on page 10-11 of G doc notes.

Question 7

Practice questions
- Discuss the evidence that professionals are unable to make accurate predictions about the future risk of harm to others. What are the possible reasons for this?
- Describe what is meant by the “actuarial approach” to risk assessment? Does it work? What are its limitations?
- Discuss the use of the HCR20 in predicting future violent behaviours.

Answer 7

Briefly plan the answers to these.