Exploring a new structured professional judgment measure (impulsivity measure related to violence) after an average follow-up of 10 years: A study of Finnish offenders.

Background: Identification of the risk factors underlying impulsivity related to violent acts is an essential component of risk assessment and management to reduce violent offending.

Aims: Our aim was to develop a clinically useful measure for assessing impulsivity related to violence. Our research questions were which items in the newly developed measure are associated with later violent recidivism and what is the measure's predictive validity?

Methods: A new scale, the impulsivity measure related to violence (IMP-V), was studied by completing the scale, blind to outcome, from information in the forensic psychiatric examination reports of 63 of a 1-year referral cohort of 181 Finnish offenders.

Structured professional judgement and sequential redirections.

Background: Findings from violence risk assessment prediction-outcome studies suggest that there is no overall 'standout' scheme.

Aim: This paper aims to highlight that even greater attention is now required on intervention-focused research.

Methods: Recent advances in the development of structured professional judgement schemes, such as the Historical, Clinical, Risk Management-20 (Version 3), are considered when applied to the tasks of refining individual case formulation and risk management planning.

The Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START): a prospective validation study in a forensic psychiatric sample.

A new assessment scheme--the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START)--presents a workable method for assessing risks to self and others encountered in mentally and personality disordered clients. This study aimed to demonstrate (a) prevalence and severity of risk behaviors measured by the START, (b) psychometric properties of START, (c) similarities and differences in START scores across different mental health professionals, and (d) concurrent validity of START with diverse negative outcomes. Treatment team members completed the 20-item, dynamically focused START for 137 forensic psychiatric inpatients.

Unavailable essential archival data: a major limitation in the conduct of clinical practice and research in violence risk assessment.

Numerous studies have identified various historical factors strongly associated with violent behaviour in psychiatric patients. We comment herein on some practical reasons for difficulty in obtaining the background documentation necessary for risk assessment.