Various instruments play a pivotal part in our work, they are crucial for us to achieve our pursued objectives and to fulfill our mission. Behavior risk assessment and management tools are particularly useful in clinical settings. Moreover, their development and implementation helps to better equip stakeholders involved with vulnerable populations. Several instruments help systematize risk assessment and management practices based on scientific data and encourage the use of best targeted practices.
Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression (DASA)
DASA is mainly used by psychiatric care unit staff to assist in early detection of imminent aggressive behavior. The structured measure addresses seven items:
- negative attitudes,
- impulsiveness,
- irritability,
- verbal threats,
- sensitivity to perceived provocation,
- tendency to get angered when request are denied,
- and unwillingness to follow instructions.
More info: Ogloff & Daffern (2007). Dynamic Appraisal of situational Aggression: Inpatient Version. Centre for Forensic Behaviour Science.
Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START)
The START is a concise, yet comprehensive, clinical guide to provide a dynamic evaluation of seven often interrelated risk factors as well as treatability. The seven assessed risks are:
- violence,
- self-harm,
- suicide,
- absconding,
- substance use,
- self-neglect
- and victimization.
The START is suitable for both single-assessor or interdisciplinary use (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, program therapists and persons with mental health issues themselves). The aim with START is to provide a structured approach, helping organize mental health condition assessment, treatment planning and information and dispense risk-related information in an accurate and constant manner.
Additionnal information
WIKI-START Community (FR)
Contact info for further details : START_At_douglas_dot_mcgill_dot_ca
Historical-Clinical-Risk -20 scale (HCR-20)
HCR-20 is one of the most widely used tools for violent risk assessment and management in people with mental or personality disorders. This comprehensive set of professional guidelines was based on the Structured Professional Judgment model. It consists of 20 static and dynamic items structured in three sections: H for historical, C for clinical, and R for risk management items. Final risk assessment relies on global (interdisciplinary) clinical judgment based on the presence and relevance of these items for a particular patient.
Répertoire d’initiatives pratiques en DI/TED-justice
This online directory was developed by the Intellectual Disability, Pervasive Developmental Disorders and Intersectoriality team (Interteddi) and is frequently updated. The website lists programs, tools, reports, agreements, guides, trainings, services and innovative practices available online related to the problem of people with ID/PDD in touch with – the justice system. Listed items come from various countries, including Canada, the United-States, the United-Kingdom and Australia.
