Risk Factors for Aggression

NOTE: This list is a set of examples of risk factors for aggression upon release to the community for service recipients committed to an RMHI. It is not an exhaustive list.

• History of Aggression: note pattern of aggression (e.g. rare but very serious acts of aggression, frequent but less serious acts of aggression, aggression in specific circumstances such as response to specific delusions
• Substance Abuse History
• Criminal History: violent and non-violent criminal charges
• Mental Illness: note links between symptoms and aggressive behavior; also note any current active symptoms
• Personality Disorder/Psychopathy
• Failure on Previous Community Release
• Use of a Weapon
• Unemployment/No meaningful daily activity (note educational activity or other meaningful daily activity such as participation in peer support center are protective)
• Victim Access (note any at-risk victim class such as children or specific identified prior target of aggression)
• History of Non-compliance with treatment
• Hostile Attitudes/Threatening statements and behavior
• Relationship Loss (death, divorce or separation from significant other or significant social support)
• Inadequate community alternative to hospitalization (e.g. housing, aftercare, likely exposure to stress, social support)
• Trauma History
• Risk of Danger to Self (suicide/self-injury)