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Assessing violence risk in general adult psychiatry

Section of Community Psychiatry (PRiSM), Health Services Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, e-mail: n.higgins{at}iop.kcl.ac.uk

David Watts, Researcher, Jonathan Bindman, Senior Lecturer, Mike Slade, MRC Clinical Scientist Fellow and Graham Thornicroft, Professor of Community Psychiatry

Institute of Psychiatry, London

Declaration of interest

This work was funded by a grant from the Policy Research Programme, Research and Development Division, Department of Health in England. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department of Health.

See editorial, pp. 121-122, this issue.

AIMS AND METHOD

We aimed to establish current practice in the risk assessment of harm to others within general adult psychiatry and review risk assessment documentation in use. Consultants working across 66 randomly selected trusts across England were surveyed. A qualitative analysis of risk assessment documentation was carried out.

RESULTS

Data were obtained from 45 trusts (68%). Consultants reported that 30 (67%) of the trusts had standardised forms for risk assessment. Forty-one forms were subjected to content analysis. Wide variation was found in the methods used to identify risk factors and in approaches to quantifying risk.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Current risk assessment practice is highly variable, indicating a lack of consensus about suitable methods.

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Violence risk assessment: The question is not whether but how

Anthony Maden
PB 2005 29: 121-122. [Full Text]  

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