title: Predicting the past or risk management?
abstract: Within mental health services, the development of risk assessment templates has been driven by a desire to reduce the rates of major adverse events. A number of theoretical problems exist with such an approach. Empirical and observational evidence suggests the exercise may be paradoxically counter productive, partly by distracting from comprehensive clinical management planning and partly by contributing to inefficiencies. A way forward which would utilise the established preference of New Zealand psychiatrists for a multiaxial classificatory as a precursor of their clinical management may offer gains in effectiveness and efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Waikato Clinical School, Waikato Hospital, Private Bag 3200, Hamilton, New Zealand. mellsopg@waikatodhb.govt.nz
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mellsop
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Clapham-Howard
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turbott
mesh_terms: D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*