Document Detail


Risk appraisal and management of violent behavior.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9285978     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To help clinicians enhance the safety of the public, hospital staff, and patients and improve patient management, this article briefly reviews recent empirical work on appraisal of the risk of violence and the management of violent individuals. METHODS: Research on the prediction, management, and treatment of violent persons published in the last decade was reviewed. RESULTS: Risk appraisal research indicates that violence is predictable in some populations. The factors most highly and consistently related to risk are historical, including age, sex, past antisocial and violent conduct, psychopathy, aggressive childhood behavior, and substance abuse. Major mental disorder and psychiatric disturbance are poor predictors of violence. Actuarial methods are more accurate in predicting risk than unaided clinical judgment, which is a poor index. The Violence Risk Appraisal Guide has been shown to be a reliable and accurate actuarial instrument. Well-controlled studies have shown the effectiveness of behavior therapy and of behavioral staff training programs to reduce violence by persons in institutions, chronic psychiatric patients, and other populations. Otherwise, little is known about what psychotherapeutic or pharmacological treatments reduce violent recidivism by which clients under what circumstances. Recent work on the neurophysiology of aggression holds exciting promise but does not yet provide a scientific basis for prescriptive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The most exciting and promising avenues for research on the management of violence lie in the joining of two scientific paths to understanding violence--biology and psychology.
Authors:
G T Harris; M E Rice
Related Documents :
15602278 - Regenerating family: strengthening the emotional health of mothers and children in the ...
21439788 - "the system is beginning to shut down": utilizing caregivers' metaphors for dementia, p...
1891528 - The injustice of nonjudicial remedies to address childhood violence.
16006028 - Achieving social change on gender-based violence: a report on the impact evaluation of ...
21355638 - Pathways from childhood abuse and neglect to hiv-risk sexual behavior in middle adulthood.
1471758 - Family history, alcohol use and dependence symptoms among young adults in the united st...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)     Volume:  48     ISSN:  1075-2730     ISO Abbreviation:  Psychiatr Serv     Publication Date:  1997 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1997-10-22     Completed Date:  1997-10-22     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9502838     Medline TA:  Psychiatr Serv     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1168-76     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Mental Health Centre, Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Actuarial Analysis
Aggression / psychology
Antisocial Personality Disorder / psychology*
Humans
Mental Disorders / psychology*
Patient Admission
Risk Assessment*
Risk Factors
Risk Management / methods
Substance-Related Disorders / psychology*
Violence / prevention & control*,  psychology
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Psychiatr Serv. 1998 Mar;49(3):387-8   [PMID:  9525804 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Responses of direct-care paraprofessional mental health staff to hypothetical ethics violations.
Next Document:  Use of the NOSIE to predict assaults among acute psychiatric patients. Nurses' Observational Scale f...