Workplace violence and psychiatric practice

The authors provide an overview of what is known about workplace violence a nd discuss how to deal with issues of workplace violence that arise in clin ical practice. They review, myths and facts about workplace violence, inclu ding research on prevention. Legal issues relating to the psychiatrist as e mployer and the Americans with Disability Act are presented. General princi ples of violence assessment are reviewed and the authors then discuss the p sychiatrist as consultant to the workplace and as clinician treating a vict im or perpetrator of workplace violence. Three cases illustrate the general principles provided.