Managing the violent patient: A guide for psychologists and other mental health professionals.

Being threatened, harassed, attacked, or confronted by a patient with a weapon is becoming more common and is likely to occur at some point in a mental health professionals career. Effective violence management programs can reduce the incidence of violence. Yet, few resources have been provided to assist psychologists and other mental health professionals to deal with aggressive patients. The authors offer strategies for the management of aggressive behavior that can be implemented to empower practitioners to take precautions when necessary in a quick and efficient manner when dealing with violent and potentially violent patients. What would you do if your next patient were violent? Are you prepared to handle a violent patient? Assume your next patient arrives for a scheduled session and you notice a gun in the patients briefcase. What would you do? Or what if your next patient discloses a plan to injure a coworker and threatens harm to you and your loved ones if the plan is disclosed to anyone, including authorities? How would you handle these situations on a short- or long-term basis?