The Essentials of Violence Risk Assessment - PsyQ Episode 11

Public perception often creates a direct and frightening link between mental illness and violence, but what does the evidence actually show? In this episode of PsyQ, we challenge common assumptions by exploring the complex reality of violence risk assessment. Using a case study of a patient making homicidal threats, we break down the crucial difference between static risk factors (like history and personality) and dynamic risk factors (like substance use and situational stressors) that clinicians can actually influence. We'll walk through the structured, evidence-based frameworks, including the "Five D's" of management, that guide professionals in high-stakes situations where the threat of violence may not stem from a treatable acute psychiatric illness. This is a deep dive into moving beyond intuition to a defensible, nuanced approach for every clinician facing this profound challenge.Source:Saxton, A., Resnick, P., & Noffsinger, S. (2018). Chief complaint: Homicidal. Assessing violence risk. Current Psychiatry, 17(5), 26–28, 30–32, 34, 55. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit upathak.substack.com