Dynamic Relationship Between Protective Factors and Violent Outcomes Assessed Using the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors (SAPROF) in Secure Forensic Services

Abstract

This UK study is one of the first cohort studies exploring dynamic changes in risk and protective factors and the value of multiple risk assessments over time using the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors (SAPROF) tool. Multilevel linear regression was used to assess the stability of risk assessment ratings within patients and logistic regression to examine the likelihood of a violent incident following assessment. The analyses included 1560 observations for 65 adult forensic inpatients. This paper points to the need for services to model a more flexible review and application of the timescales in which the structured assessment/reassessment cycle operates.