Assessing Risk of Other-Directed Violence in Adults

Course overview

This course will address correlates of other-directed violence in domestic, workplace, and community settings, including psychological, social, and situation-specific factors that increase risk. Best practices for evaluating the threat of other-directed violence will be discussed, including available assessment instruments that can be used to inform overall risk level. Interventions to reduce the risk of other-directed violence will be reviewed. The goal of this course is to provide addictions, behavioral health counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology, and social work professionals in health and human services with information on how to assess the risk of other-directed violence. We offer examples of structured instruments to use in the risk assessment of other-directed violence. We are not endorsing any specific instruments and encourage you to explore existing options, keeping in mind important issues, such as availability, cost, and training requirements associated with any potential instrument.