Risk assessment tools used by emergency department and mental health staff (categories not mutually exclusive)
| Description | Frequency of use by emergency departments | Frequency of use by mental health services |
|---|---|---|
| Published risk scales* | ||
| SAD PERSONS Scale27 | 9 | 2 |
| Suicide Intent Scale29† | 1 | 1 |
| Pierce Suicide Intent Scale28 | 1 | 1 |
| Beck Depression Inventory36 | 1 | |
| All other risk assessment tools | ||
| Structured pro forma (developed locally) | 13 | 22 |
| Galatean Risk Screening Tool (GRiST) | 1 | |
| Emergency department mental health/suicide risk assessment form | 3 | |
| Safe-risk pro forma | 1 | |
| Functional analysis of care environments (FACE) | 1 | |
| Emergency department doctors’ handbook | 1 | |
| Mental health clustering tool | 1 | |
| Threshold assessment grid (TAG) | 2 | |
| Policy on intranet | 1 | |
| Risk assessment based on the care programme approach (or using CPA forms) | 3 | 6 |
| CARSO: clinical assessment of risks to self and others | 1 | 1 |
| Rapid assessment and treatment tool | 1 | |
| St George's tool | 2 | |
| Computerised assessment system | 1 | 2 |
| Initial screening assessment form‡ | 1 | 1 |
| Risk assessment matrix | 2 | 1 |
*Published scales, which have undergone psychometric testing (eg, to evaluate reliability, predictive ability, diagnostic accuracy and construct, internal and external validity; Bossuyt et al, 2003).15
†Section of pro forma based on Suicide Intent Scale (mental health services).
‡Tool taken from Morgan.37