Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention Advance Access originally published online on January 21, 2008
Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 2008 8(1):27-42; doi:10.1093/brief-treatment/mhm027
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Forensic Psychiatry and Violent Adolescents
In the 1990s, increasing rates of violence among adolescents spawned a new era of research into the causes and correlates of youth violence. The resultant data on risk factors have provided opportunities for establishing empirically based assessments and risk-focused treatment programs. Community-based treatment programs that demonstrate moderate effect in reducing violence have renewed optimism in the benefit of treatment over punishment. Current research on "adolescent psychopathy" and structured assessments of risk for violence present opportunities for advancing rehabilitation but carry a significant risk of harm. It is essential that forensic psychiatrists are guided by the available evidence and instruments when providing professional opinions on violent adolescent clients to the criminal justice system. In fitting with the evidence-based practice approach, forensic psychiatrists have an ethical responsibility to take into consideration available empirical research relevant to assessing and treating violent adolescents. Current policies that limit the ability to provide treatment in juvenile settings should be challenged by organized psychiatry.
KEY WORDS: forensic psychiatry, adolescence, violence, risk assessments, psychopathy