risk assessment

Question 1

To cover risk of self-harm and suicide, ask about

Answer 1

Thoughts of harm to self
Thoughts of death/dying/ending own life

Previous deliberate self-harm or attempts to end own life
How many times?
Methods (e.g. Cutting, overdoses, ligature etc.)
Intention (What did you think would happen? Sleep, injury, death?)
Precipitants (Was there something that triggered this? Was it planned?)
Location (Were attempts made to avoid discovery? Did you contact help?)
Final acts (Was a note left, or a will made etc?)
Feelings afterwards (Were you glad to have lived? Did you regret what happened?)

Question 2

Ti civer risk to others, ask about

Answer 2

Thoughts of harming others
Thoughts that other may cause harm
History of harm to others
Previous police involvement/charges/convictions
Age at time of first violent act (Younger age of onset of violence suggests higher risk)
Access to weapons
Particular clinical pictures associated with increased risk to others
Command hallucinations, passivity phenomena
Delusional jealousy
Dissocial personality disorder
Frontal lobe damage
Substance misuse

Question 3

To cover risk of sel-neglect, ask

Answer 3

Interest in self-care
Appetite, oral/fluid intake
Social support