What Factors Are Important When Assessing an Individual's Insight/Awareness of Their Own Violence Risk?

Despite insight into violence being a factor regularly addressed by professionals in the assessment of future violence occurring research on this concept is sparse. Research instead tends to focus specifically on insight into violence specifically in relation to schizophrenia rather than more broadly in forensic and other clinical settings. What evidence there is suggests that developing an individual's insight or awareness of their own risk of violence is a key factor in reducing the likelihood of them engaging in further acts of violence. Being able to appropriately assess this is key and appears to currently be inconsistent between professionals.

In this study, therefore, a questionnaire will be disseminated to professionals working in secure care or a forensic community setting in order to gather their views on what factors contribute to an individual's insight or awareness into their own violent behaviours.

All clinicians/professionals who are currently employed and qualified as an Offender Manager, Offender Supervisor, Psychologist, Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Psychiatrist, Prison Officer currently working in a secure care or forensic community setting will be eligible to participate. Individuals with the appropriate qualifications working within private practice in the UK will also be eligible to participate. Those working outside the UK will not be eligible to participate.