Protective factors for violence risk: The value for clinical practice

Violence risk assessment tools in forensic psychiatry have traditionally solely been focused on risk factors. Recently, positive psychology inspired a more strengths-based approach to treatment and sparked an innovation in the assessment of violence risk: the introduction of protective factors. The Structured Assessment of Protective Factors for Violence Risk (SAPROF) was developed to complement violence risk assessment with an assessment of protective factors. In this article, clinical experiences with the use of protective factors in forensic practice are described and empirical findings on incorporating protective factors in the risk assessment procedure are discussed. The results of this study underline the value of protective factors for a balanced and more accurate violence risk assessment and exemplify their potential in guiding treatment planning, evaluating treatment progress and improving positive risk management strategies.