An axis for risk management in classificatory systems as a contribution to efficient clinical practice.
Comprehensive clinical assessment and patient management plans have been enhanced by the development of multiaxial classificatory systems. Assessment of risk is an essential clinical task for which the conclusions are not currently reflected in the multiaxial diagnostic schemata. Developments in the understanding of risk and its management make possible consideration of its place in multiaxial systems. The structure and principles of a potentially workable axis, summarizing current knowledge of risk in the domains of suicide, self-neglect and violence to others, are described. Clinicians are more likely to use this axis than the multiple, emerging, risk assessment guidelines. Incorporating risk management would be a practical addition to presently available axes and be very widely clinically applicable.
Department of Psychiatry, Waikato Clinical School, University of Auckland, Private Bag 3200, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Graham
G
Mellsop
Shailesh
S
Kumar