Citation

Brown S, Langrish M. Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care 2012; 8(1): 35-41.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012)

DOI

10.1017/S1742646411000264

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Structured assessment of risk is a standard element of the core psychiatric assessment, particularly in respect of individuals, who are perceived to be at risk of violence or suicide. Many acute mental health trusts have introduced risk assessment tools, often without evidence of validity.

AIM: To evaluate a tool designed to predict the acute risk of violence by patients detained in a PICU.

METHOD: A risk assessment form was completed weekly for each patient on the PICU. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to measure the predictive value of particular variables in respect of violent behaviour during the next two weeks.

RESULTS: Violent behaviour during the previous two weeks was a significant predictor of subsequent violence. Drug use was a negative predictor. None of the other variables tested were predictive of violent behaviour.

CONCLUSIONS: A complicated risk assessment tool probably adds little to the process of predicting acutely violent behaviour in PICU patients. The introduction of procedures such as structured risk assessment tools should be subject to the same validation process as any other clinical initiative. © 2011, NAPICU. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

violence; risk assessment; intensive care; Psychiatric unit