RISK ASSESSMENTS FOR ACUTE VIOLENCE TO 3RD-PARTIES - A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Objectives: To provide an overview of risk assessments for acute viole nce to third parties by combining a clinical and research focus and to offer guidelines to physicians conducting clinical assessments. Metho d: A computerized literature search of the MEDLINE and PSYCHINFO data bases from 1967 to 1996 was completed using the key words violence, ag gression, dangerous behaviour, risk, risk assessment, risk factors, an d practice guidelines. The search yielded 116 relevant references, 26 of which were original research articles on risk factor identification . A secondary search, based on the citations from the primary search, yielded an additional 8 general discussion articles. Results: Risk ass essments may be conducted using different methods, although all method s should be systematic and comprehensive. Research shows that risk ass essments do have validity for use in short-term prediction and that it is possible to develop clinical guidelines in this area. A combined c linical and research approach holds the most promise for improving the accuracy of probability estimates, and most published guides and tool s rely on such a combination. Conclusions: Risk assessments are an imp ortant and necessary part of the clinical examination. Because this fi eld has sufficiently evolved, there is abundant literature to refer to when determining what constitutes an acceptable assessment for risk o f violence to third parties and when if is appropriate to conduct such an examination.