John Rozel, MD, MSL
What is an evidence-based, clinically savvy mental health professional supposed to do about violence? A serious reading of the scientific literature on violence reveals, quite quickly, that understanding violence risk helps little in managing the clear majority of psychiatric patients who do not engage in violence, and that understanding mental illness helps little in responding to the more important issues of violence which, largely, are not attributable to mental illness.
Moving beyond basic concepts in violence assessment, this workshop will take a nuanced approach to applying recent research findings and practical methodologies to recognizing and managing violence risk in a variety of clinical settings. Common myths and outmoded ideas will be debunked and attendees will be introduced to cutting-edge findings of psychosis, structured clinical judgment, and threat management. The principles will be illustrated with real clinical examples and audience members will be invited to participate in case discussions.
Objectives:
- Analyze new evidence delineating which aspects of psychiatric illness are, and are not, associated with violence risk.
- Describe the roles of unstructured clinical interviews, actuarial instruments, and structured professional judgments (SPJ) in various settings.
- Discuss how threat management and protective intelligence approaches to clinical scenarios may yield new considerations in mitigating clinical violence risk.
- Identify potential and important collaborators in violence risk management outside of their current operational silo.
Target Audience: Clinical personnel, counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, educators, criminal justice professionals, health care professionals.
Intermediate level. CE credits offered = 1.5 contact hours.