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START (Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability)

Definition

A dynamic risk-and-strengths assessment tool designed for use in forensic and psychiatric settings, assessing 20 items as both risk factors and protective strengths. Particularly useful for care planning because it identifies targets for intervention, not just risk levels.

Related terms

Dual-role tension
The inherent conflict in forensic mental health settings between the nurse's duty as a patient advocate and their obligations to the institution,...
Fitness to stand trial (competency to stand trial)
The legal determination that a defendant can understand criminal proceedings against them and participate in their own defence. A finding of unfitness...
HCR-20
Historical, Clinical, Risk Management-20: a structured professional judgement tool for violence risk assessment covering 20 items across historical background, current clinical status,...
Structured professional judgement (SPJ)
A risk-assessment paradigm in which a clinician codes empirically supported risk factors on a defined scale and then makes a professional judgement...
Therapeutic relationship under legal constraint
The working clinical alliance between a forensic nurse and a patient whose freedom is restricted by law. Building trust while being honest...

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