Violence risk assessment Flashcards
Description of risk
Likelihood that harm will occur
Problem with risk prediction due to the fact events of interest are rare
Low base rate
Description of static risk factors
Historical and fixed
Examples of static risk factors
Family history of suicide
Sex
History of childhood abuse
Description of stable risk factors
Long term enduring issues that can be modified to an extent
Examples of stable risk factors
Socioeconomic deprivation
Diagnosis of personality disorder
Description of dynamic risk factors
Factors which significantly fluctuate
Examples of dynamic risk factors
Intoxication
Acute anxiety symptoms
Type of risk assessment which uses objective procedures to quantify risk as a probability
Actuarial
Type of risk factors actuarial risk assessments often ignore
Dynamic risk factors
Type of risk assessment which combines evidence base with individual clinical opinion
Structured professional judgement
Type of risk assessment which uses an individual clinician’s subjective judgement only
Clinical approach
Item types in the HCR-20 risk tool
10 historical items
5 clinical items
5 risk management items
Historical items in the HCR-20 risk tool
Previous history of violence
Young age at first incident
Unstable relationships
Major mental illness
Substance misuse
Psychopathy
Employment issues
Personality disorder
Early maladjustment
Previous supervision failure
Clinical items in the HCR-20 risk tool
Negative attitudes to health services
Active symptoms
Impulsivity
Treatment unresponsiveness
Lack of insight
