Assessing Violence Risk: Prevention-Firearms & Ethical Documentation
In Episode 1.9 of Psychiatry Boot Camp, we take on a high-stakes and often misunderstood topic: violence risk assessment in psychiatric settings.
Our guide is Dr. Amy Barnhorst, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Vice Chair for Community Mental Health at UC Davis. A nationally recognized expert in violence prevention, firearms policy, and psychiatric ethics, Dr. Barnhorst brings a rare blend of academic depth and real-world experience to this critical issue.
🧠 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✔️ The different types and definitions of violence in psychiatry
✔️ How to assess the risk of violence using structured and unstructured tools
✔️ Warning signs and predictive risk factors for violence
✔️ Documentation best practices that protect patients and clinicians
✔️ How to evaluate access to firearms and when to intervene
✔️ Public health approaches to violence prevention
✔️ Common myths and misconceptions in violence risk assessment
✔️ Clinical vs. legal obligations: what psychiatrists must know
📌 Why Violence Risk Assessment Matters:
Though rare, violence can have devastating consequences in psychiatric care—and clinicians are often called to evaluate threats with limited information, high pressure, and real liability. Yet many psychiatrists receive little formal training in this area.
Dr. Barnhorst demystifies this process and helps clinicians move away from fear-based decision-making toward evidence-based, ethically sound frameworks.
Her approach emphasizes:
Early pattern recognition and de-escalation
Careful language in documentation
Realistic strategies to mitigate risk without stigmatizing patients
Clear guidance around firearm access and mandated reporting laws
👩⚕️ About Dr. Amy Barnhorst:
• Associate Professor of Psychiatry, UC Davis School of Medicine
• Vice Chair for Community Mental Health
• Expert in firearm policy, mental health law, and psychiatric ethics
• Director, BulletPoints Project – a training resource for clinicians on firearm injury prevention
• Advocate for improving public and clinician education around mental illness and violence
Dr. Barnhorst is known for bridging clinical psychiatry and public policy, especially where firearm safety and mental health intersect.
📚 Further Learning:
🔗 BulletPoints Project
A free, evidence-based resource to help clinicians reduce firearm injury and improve communication with patients about access to lethal means.
🎯 Who Should Watch This Episode:
• Psychiatry and emergency medicine residents
• Consult-liaison and forensic psychiatry fellows
• ER clinicians, social workers, and mental health nurses
• Risk managers, legal liaisons, and public health professionals
• Anyone who evaluates or documents patient safety risks in practice
This episode is especially valuable for those working in acute care settings, involuntary holds, risk assessment teams, or crisis units.
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🔗 Beat The Boards
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Use referral code BOOTCAMP at checkout for exclusive savings.
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💬 Discussion Prompt:
What’s the most challenging violence risk case you’ve encountered? How do you balance patient care with community safety? Let’s discuss in the comments.
📌 Timestamps (Suggested Layout):
00:00 – Introduction to Violence Risk Assessment
03:00 – Types and Definitions of Violence
06:40 – Structured Tools vs. Clinical Judgment
10:15 – Firearm Access & Intervention
13:30 – Public Health and Prevention Models
17:00 – Ethical and Legal Documentation
21:20 – Final Thoughts from Dr. Barnhorst
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