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Therapeutic Risk Management with PTSD Part 1: Suicide Risk Assessment and Stratification

Hal Wortzel, MD

Wednesday, April 19 at 2:00pm ET 

Photo by SHVETS production

About the Presenter

HAL WORTZEL, MD is a forensic neuropsychiatrist at the Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), where he serves as Director of Neuropsychiatric Consultation Services and Co-director for the National Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program. He is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at of the University of Colorado, and serves as the Michael K. Cooper Professor of Neurocognitive Disease, and as Faculty for the Program in Forensic Psychiatry.  Dr. Wortzel maintains a private practice in Forensic Neuropsychiatry & Behavioral Neurology, and has consulted on numerous criminal and civil cases. Areas of research/scholarship interest include suicide risk management, and aggression and suicide in the context of PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

About the Topic

While the practice of treating PTSD and other mental health conditions involves many challenges, few scenarios are as clinically and emotionally demanding as managing the patient who is at elevated risk for suicide. Risk management is a reality of mental health practice, and this necessitates practicing and documenting thoughtful suicide risk assessment and management. Therapeutic risk management is based on clinical risk management that is patient-centered, supportive of the treatment process, and maintains the therapeutic alliance. This presentation will offer a broad overview of a model for achieving therapeutic risk management of the patient at risk for suicide that involves: clinical interview for risk assessment; augmenting clinical risk assessment with structured instruments; and stratifying risk in terms of both severity and temporality.

Read more about PTSD and suicide

Featured Article

FAQs about PTSD Assessment: For Professionals

What Is the Difference Between a Trauma Exposure Measure and a PTSD Measure?  

What Are the Main Differences Among PTSD Measures?

What Are the Main Differences Among Trauma Exposure Measures?

What Is the Best Measure for Assessing PTSD Symptoms?

How Do I Determine the Forensic Validity of a PTSD Diagnosis?

How Do I Choose a Measure to Assess Trauma History?

How Can I Obtain Trauma Exposure and PTSD Assessment Measures?

Read our answers to these frequently asked questions

Free Resources

Prepare Now for PTSD Awareness Month

Please consider ordering materials now that you can use this June during PTSD Awareness Month (and all year long).  A large variety of print materials are available for free.  Visit https://orders.gpo.gov/PTSD.aspx to place your order today.  

Explore the PTSD Awareness Month Webpage

Visit the PTSD Awareness Month page now to learn more about our annual campaign and consider how you and your organization can get involved.

You can also find ideas and materials to help you spread the word. 

You and/or your organize can take a pledge to partner with us and download a free toolkit.  

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Our team of expert clinicians is available to consult with any healthcare provider treating U.S. veterans in any setting.   We can discuss assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapy, medications, collaborating with VA care, patient and family education, continuing education, and just about anything else related to veterans and PTSD.  No question is too big or too small. Contact us at PTSDconsult@va.gov or 866-948-7880.