Firearms risk management in psychiatric care

Objective: This study sought to assess the effectiveness of a firearms risk management program. Methods: A firearms risk management program, which inc luded multidisciplinary assessment, treatment, and discharge planning, was developed and implemented among 46 civilly committed psychiatric inpatients at the Twin Valley Psychiatric System, a behavioral health organization of the Ohio Department of Mental Health. Results: The research sample compris ed mainly men who had personality disorders and histories of substance abus e and who had expressed an intent to use a firearm to commit suicide. On di scharge, none of the patients had access to a firearm. Of the 16 patients w ho were hospitalized during the next 24 months, only five were noted to hav e threatened to harm themselves or others with a firearm or to have access to a firearm. Conclusions: Multidisciplinary and focused assessment, treatm ent, and discharge planning can be effective in neutralizing the risk of fi rearms use among psychiatric patients.