Clinician's Guide to Violence Risk Assessment

"When it comes to violence risk assessment, mental health professionals can feel lost in a sea of contradictory claims. Finally, Mills et al. have produced a user-friendly map that provides robust, accurate, even-handed, and readable advice about this crucial task. From rising stars in forensic psychology, this is an outstanding contribution to the field, and one that will have a very long shelf life. Buy this book!" - Joel A. Dvoskin, past president, American Psychology-Law Society; Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, USA "When mental health clinicians are asked to assess the risk of violence, their determinations have serious implications for both the patient and the public. To aid clinicians in making these important decisions, Mills et al. offer an evidence-based framework for risk assessment. The authors present essential forensic tools substantiated with current research. Their framework for risk assessment does not end with gathering information and formulating opinions; they also include practical guidelines for developing risk management strategies and reporting risk to the court, as well as other stakeholders in the criminal justice and mental health systems. The authors integrate research and clinical knowledge in a manner that provides clinicians with the state of the art and science of risk assessment. A welcome resource." - Allan Barsky, School of Social Work, Florida Atlantic University, USA "This excellent book provides a practical, evidence-based, step-by-step guide to choosing risk assessment instruments, doing a thorough risk assessment, and conveying your conclusions in a user-friendly report. The authors convey a thorough knowledge of the research literature, but it is also clear that they have been in the trenches. This book is a 'must' for novices who work in forensic settings." - Phillip Resnick, Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, USA