Threat AssessmentThreat Assessment

Developed by DATA of Rhode Island Developed by DATA of Rhode Island through a grant from the through a grant from the

RI Department of Human ServicesRI Department of Human Services

DefinitionDefinition

Threat (risk) AssessmentThreat (risk) Assessment refers to the refers to the establishment of a judgment of risk in the establishment of a judgment of risk in the very near future, based on the weighing of very near future, based on the weighing of information that is available. information that is available. In general in assessing risk or threat, it is In general in assessing risk or threat, it is always better to err on the side of cautionalways better to err on the side of cautionThreat assessment has a number of Threat assessment has a number of elements similar to suicide risk elements similar to suicide risk assessmentassessment

Threat AssessmentThreat Assessment

GOALSGOALS• Participants to increase knowledge of Participants to increase knowledge of

threat risk factors associated with threat risk factors associated with hostile/violent actshostile/violent acts

• To understand which factors should To understand which factors should be most of concernbe most of concern

• To understand when the worker To understand when the worker should intervene?should intervene?

Understanding aggressionUnderstanding aggression

All persons have capacity for All persons have capacity for aggressions, though most never have aggressions, though most never have need to act on it.need to act on it.Aggression is broadly defined in two Aggression is broadly defined in two categories:categories:

1.1. Instrumental Instrumental 2.2. Endogenous/hostile Endogenous/hostile

Instrumental aggressionInstrumental aggression

Instrumental aggression is defined as the Instrumental aggression is defined as the use of aggression as part of a problem use of aggression as part of a problem solving process and the act is first solving process and the act is first motivated by a goal (having and motivated by a goal (having and instrumental purpose) Examples include: instrumental purpose) Examples include: protecting from threat, robbery, retaliationprotecting from threat, robbery, retaliation

Hostile AggressionHostile Aggression

Hostile aggression is primarily emotion Hostile aggression is primarily emotion driven usually with some sort of driven usually with some sort of “perceived” provocation. Sometimes the “perceived” provocation. Sometimes the provocation is clearly observable to a third provocation is clearly observable to a third party. Other times provocation is more party. Other times provocation is more internally driven with only minimal cues internally driven with only minimal cues from the environment. from the environment.

Assessing client risk Assessing client risk

Three major domains effect assessing Three major domains effect assessing client risk. These are: Previous history, client risk. These are: Previous history, current psychosocial or environmental current psychosocial or environmental stressors and client behavioral/emotional stressors and client behavioral/emotional statusstatus

Historic FactorsHistoric FactorsHistoric factors are unchanging and help to establish a baseline of Historic factors are unchanging and help to establish a baseline of

riskriskHistoric factors include:Historic factors include:

Previous history of violence Previous history of violence History of maltreatment as a childHistory of maltreatment as a childHistory of relationship instabilityHistory of relationship instabilityPersonality disorderPersonality disorderSubstance abuseSubstance abuseUnemploymentUnemploymentAccess to weaponsAccess to weaponsRelationshipsRelationships

Note: The presence of Axis1 mental illness is not a predictive factor.Note: The presence of Axis1 mental illness is not a predictive factor.

Emotional/behavioral Emotional/behavioral ConsiderationsConsiderations

ImpulsivityImpulsivityActive substance abuse particularly alcoholActive substance abuse particularly alcoholPoor communication SkillsPoor communication SkillsHighly negative attitudeHighly negative attitudeCognitive impairmentCognitive impairmentMood instabilityMood instabilityAffect regulationAffect regulationDegree of arousal…Agitation to furyDegree of arousal…Agitation to furyIntentionalityIntentionalityTunnel Vision/ReversibilityTunnel Vision/ReversibilityLack of interpersonal supportLack of interpersonal support

Current StressorsCurrent Stressors

Interpersonal conflictInterpersonal conflictRelationship Break upRelationship Break upLoss Loss Recent arrest Recent arrest Public embarrassment/humiliationPublic embarrassment/humiliation

Screening ProcessScreening Process

Screening process for threat is similar to Screening process for threat is similar to process for suicidal riskprocess for suicidal risk

COMPONENTS OF THREAT ASSESSMENTCOMPONENTS OF THREAT ASSESSMENT

Survey and identify client risk factors Survey and identify client risk factors Elicit direct client communication from Elicit direct client communication from client (if possible)client (if possible)Direct observationDirect observationPrevious HistoryPrevious HistoryLevel of ProvocationLevel of ProvocationRelationship between involved partiesRelationship between involved parties

Areas of greatest concernAreas of greatest concern

Client under the influenceClient under the influenceClient has identified a “target” person who Client has identified a “target” person who is object of his aggressionis object of his aggressionClient demonstrates a high level of Client demonstrates a high level of agitationagitationClient has history of aggressive actionsClient has history of aggressive actionsClient has difficulty with redirectionClient has difficulty with redirectionNo supports or toxic supportsNo supports or toxic supports

Response to threatResponse to threatFirst Rule: If ever you have concern for your safety First Rule: If ever you have concern for your safety

do not conduct client interview alone. do not conduct client interview alone. Rule Two: If threat seems imminent toward Rule Two: If threat seems imminent toward

yourself or others, seek safety, call for help and yourself or others, seek safety, call for help and recognize your duty to warn. recognize your duty to warn.

Rule Three: Document your actionsRule Three: Document your actionsRule Four: With an interpersonal conflict there are Rule Four: With an interpersonal conflict there are

always two sides, try your best to remain neutral.always two sides, try your best to remain neutral.Rule Five: Even if the threat level appears to be Rule Five: Even if the threat level appears to be

relatively low, the worker should always provide relatively low, the worker should always provide some kind of response and follow up. some kind of response and follow up.

Questions and Wrap upQuestions and Wrap up