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01-10-2019 | Original Paper

Psychiatric Risk Assessment from the Clinician’s Perspective: Lessons for the Future

Authors: Alex S. Cohen, Taylor Fedechko, Elana K. Schwartz, Thanh P. Le, Peter W. Foltz, Jared Bernstein, Jian Cheng, Elizabeth Rosenfeld, Brita Elvevåg

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 7/2019

Abstract

Accurate prediction of risk-states in Serious Mental Illnesses (SMIs) is critical for reducing their massive societal burden. Risk-state assessments are notably inaccurate. Recent innovations, including widely available and inexpensive mobile technologies for ambulatory “biobehavioral” data, can reshape risk assessment. To help understand and accelerate clinician involvement, we surveyed 90 multi-disciplinary clinicians serving SMI populations in various settings to evaluate how risk assessment is conducted and can improve. Clinicians reported considerable variability in conducting risk assessment, and few clinicians explicated their procedures beyond tying it to broader mental status examinations or interviews. Very few clinicians endorsed using currently-available standardized risk measures, and most reported low confidence in their utility. Clinicians also reported spending approximately half the time conducting individual risk assessments than optimally needed. When asked about improvement, virtually no clinicians acknowledged biobehavioral, objective technologies, or ambulatory recording. Overall, clinicians seemed unaware of meaningful ways to improve risk assessment.

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Title: Psychiatric Risk Assessment from the Clinician’s Perspective: Lessons for the Future
Authors: Alex S. Cohen
Taylor Fedechko
Elana K. Schwartz
Thanh P. Le
Peter W. Foltz
Jared Bernstein
Jian Cheng
Elizabeth Rosenfeld
Brita Elvevåg
Publication date: 01-10-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 7/2019
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00411-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Psychiatric Risk Assessment from the Clinician’s Perspective: Lessons for the Future

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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