ABSTRACT
This chapter presents guidelines for the evaluation and management of violent patients. It focuses on the clinical aspects of this area and is a condensation and update of earlier, more extensive writings on the subject (Tardiff 1996; Tardiff 1999). Most litigation this author has seen in this area has involved wrongful management of violence with injury to the violent patient or a clinician’s failure to evaluate violence potential with subsequent injury of others by a patient. Despite the injuries, cases usually have been decided in favor of clinicians if proper procedures and standards have been followed (American Psychiatric Association 1985; Beck 1985).
