Violence in the workplace: new perspectives in forensic mental health services in the USA

Background This paper reviews current research on workplace violence in the USA and offers suggestions concerning the roles that mental health profess ionals with forensic expertise can play in this expanding field. Aims To clarify the role of the mental health professional in evaluating is sues related to workplace violence. Method Manual and computer literature searches were performed. Results The incidence of reported workplace violence is on the rise and can be devastating beyond the immediate injury. Forensically oriented mental h ealth professionals can assist companies by providing pre-employment screen ings, fitness-for-duty evaluations and threat assessment by using the resul ts of current research on potentially violent individuals. Conclusions With the growing interest in workplace violence come many oppor tunities for mental health professionals to assist companies in assessment, intervention and prevention. Declaration of interest This paper was financially supported by the Isaac R ay Center, Inc. (Section of Psychiatry and the Law, Rush-Presbyterian-St. L uke's Medical Center), Chicago, Illinois, USA.