Video: Evander Lomke of the AMHF on "The Violent Person" by Raymond B. Flannery, Jr.
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Programs
The American Mental Health Foundation, Inc., launched an exciting new publishing program in Fall 2009. The first book under the AMHF Books imprint IS NOW AVAILABLE! It was published on October 23, 2009, in paperback and hardcover simultaneously, as well as e-book format. Order copies while supplies last.
"Dr. Raymond Flannery's The Violent Person is a masterpiece. It is must reading for anyone in risk management or hospital administration. Dr. Flannery is without question the leading authority on the violent patient. His insights and recommendations on the management of this increasing challenge in health care are not only welcomed, but essential as the face of American health care is changing. I firmly believe that adherence to his recommendations will not only improve health care, but will save careers, perhaps even lives."
George S. Everly Jr., Ph.D., ABPP, FAPM
Professor of Psychology, Loyola University
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, The John Hopkins University School of Medicine
The first 5-star notice from Midwest Book Review may be seen by clicking the link below:
amazon
The December 2009 notice from Small Press Bookwatch (under "Psychology") may be seen by clicking the link below:
Small Press Bookwatch
More reviews of The Violent Person:
Holy Cross magazine (Spring 2010)
Raymond Flannery, a licensed clinical psychologist and an associate clinical professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School, has studied the intricate nature of stress, violence and psychological trauma for more than 40 years. In his latest book, The Violent Person, Flannery outlines professional risk-management strategies for safety and care. He notes that in their daily work, health-care workers are often in the path of violence, falling victim to homicide, hostage taking, robbery, and sexual assault. The Violent Person aims to save lives of these front-line caretakers—and is of interest to any reader contemplating stress and the workings of the human mind.
Bulletin of the International Society for Research on Aggression, June 2010
This is a very accessible book whose audience is perhaps more likely to represent practitioners than academics. Academics may find the limited referencing within the text and simplistic models, a drawback. Some of the statements made were simply not supported by empirical study. For example, why is an “inappropriate use” of dark glasses, a warning sign of a “loss of control” (p.39)?
If like myself however you are also a practitioner (or both practitioner and academic) you can see its value for a ground-staff audience. By this I mean that it has appeal for the uneducated or new staff member who is trying to manage and/or coordinate responses to actual and potentially threatening situations, which may or may not lead to displays of aggression. It also covers a very broad remit with a useful inclusion of anecdotes, which increases the accessibility of the text.
You also formed a view that whereas in parts it was rather up-to-date, such as the discussions focusing on the role of mental illness and aggression, in other sections it required updating. The “theories of human violence,” as one example, focused more on the correlates of aggression as opposed to what academics understand as theories.
This though is a likely product of an attempt to write in an accessible manner to a non-academic audience, and to cover a considerable amount of rather weighty academic content in an abbreviated text. In fact as I read the book I could see that it could work equally well as a series of handouts or “help-guides.”
Thus I would conclude by stating that if this book is read with the mindset that it is written for the lay-practitioner/staff-member who requires an accessible text that can give them some valuable pointers, then it is to be highly commended. Core academics or the highly specialized practitioner will not find it adds to their repertoire of knowledge but then I do not feel that this is the real aim of the book. In fact I would go as far to say that there is a market for more lay-accessible texts, such as this, that do make an attempt to educate on core relevant literature as opposed to pontificating on the authors chosen (often single) preference. The text certainly achieves this. (by Professor Jane L. Ireland)
International Journal of Emergency Mental Health (2010)
Dr. Ray Flannery, a respected expert on assault, violence, and trauma, continues his focus on assisting health-care provider’s deal with the potential violence inherent in their jobs. He dedicates this book to the “professionals in all disciplines who quietly and in self-effacing ways serve others in need, even in those situations that place their own lives and safety at risk. (p.15)”
Every year, health care providers and emergency responders are verbally, sexually assaulted, psychologically traumatized, injured, and even killed by the very people they are caring for. Those impacted by this interpersonal violence may be our colleagues or ourselves.
Throughout this book, he builds a checklist of safety guidelines. Each chapter ends with a summary table of the guidelines discussed so far in the book. For instance, at the end of chapter 1, the list includes Think Medical or Psychiatric Illness. Think Call Log. Think Scene Surveillance. Think Old Brain Stem. And Think Early Warning Signs. By the last chapter, he offers a total of ten safety and two self-care guides.
In the first part of his book, Dr. Flannery reviews the basic nature of behavioral emergencies, and general strategies for assessing and managing risk. As the originator of the Assaulted Staff Program (ASAP), he has logged 20 years of assault incident data. From this data, he presents the most common medical and psychiatric illnesses associated with violence, e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and substance abuse.
Dr. Flannery suggests that every act of violence involves a disruption of one or more of the three domains of good health caring attachments to others, reasonable mastery of our lives, and a meaningful purpose in life. When responders can identify in which domain the disruption is occurring, they can attempt to de-escalate the situation by focusing on the domain. He then reviews major theories of violence form cultural, biological, sociological, and psychological perspectives.
The four chapters comprising Part 2 focus on commonly encountered behavioral emergencies: psychological trauma, domestic violence, psychiatric emergencies, and youth violence. Dr. Flannery reviews the psychological dimensions of each potential emergency, then presents specific safety guidelines for that emergency.
A safety guideline consistently recommended throughout this book is forming an alliance with the person with whom you are working. He suggests focusing on the two of you resolving the current situation together, without violence, thus restoring that person’s sense of mastery.
The third chapter examines important self-care issues, including basic self-defense techniques, and health and wellness strategies. Dr. Flannery asserts that “violence occurs when effective communication fail, and good communication skills are important self-defense strategies” (p.137). He reviews essential nonverbal communication factors such as wardrobe, environment, posture, and tone of voice.
He then moves to verbal communication and verbal de-escalation tips. Once again, he advocates developing an alliance with the patient, asking permission before using first names, and developing alternatives and plans of action together with the person. He recommends de-escalation strategies such as giving the individual personal space, keeping the person talking, using a calm tone of voice, and continuously reminding the person of nonviolent alternatives.
I appreciated his comment in his chapter on Strategies for Health and Wellness “Since we can predict that our work in responding to behavioral emergencies will be stressful, and since we can also assume that we will encounter inevitable personal life-stress, we need to develop individualized programs to manage stress and reduce the potential negative impact from both” (p.150). He suggests several areas for focus such as wise lifestyle choices, time management.
Dr. Flannery closes with four case examples, illustrating the application for relevant guidelines from his list of ten safety and two self-care guidelines.
The Violent Person is a valuable tool for health care providers and emergency responders in all disciplines.
Raymond D. Flannery Jr.,PhD, FAPM, is the author of numerous articles addressing assault, violence, and psychological trauma plus six other books including Preventing Youth Violence: A Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Counselors; Violence in America: Coping with Drugs, Distressed Families, Inadequate Schooling, and Acts of Hate; and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: The Victim’s Guide to Healing and Recovery. Dr. Flannery is a licensed clinical psychologist associate clinical professor of psychology, Department of Psychology, Harvard Medical School.
"Dr. Raymond Flannery's The Violent Person is a masterpiece. It is must reading for anyone in risk management or hospital administration. Dr. Flannery is without question the leading authority on the violent patient. His insights and recommendations on the management of this increasing challenge in health care are not only welcomed, but essential as the face of American health care is changing. I firmly believe that adherence to his recommendations will not only improve health care, but will save careers, perhaps even lives."
George S. Everly Jr., Ph.D., ABPP, FAPM
Professor of Psychology, Loyola University
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, The John Hopkins University School of Medicine
The first 5-star notice from Midwest Book Review may be seen by clicking the link below:
amazon
The December 2009 notice from Small Press Bookwatch (under "Psychology") may be seen by clicking the link below:
Small Press Bookwatch
More reviews of The Violent Person:
Holy Cross magazine (Spring 2010)
Raymond Flannery, a licensed clinical psychologist and an associate clinical professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School, has studied the intricate nature of stress, violence and psychological trauma for more than 40 years. In his latest book, The Violent Person, Flannery outlines professional risk-management strategies for safety and care. He notes that in their daily work, health-care workers are often in the path of violence, falling victim to homicide, hostage taking, robbery, and sexual assault. The Violent Person aims to save lives of these front-line caretakers—and is of interest to any reader contemplating stress and the workings of the human mind.
Bulletin of the International Society for Research on Aggression, June 2010
This is a very accessible book whose audience is perhaps more likely to represent practitioners than academics. Academics may find the limited referencing within the text and simplistic models, a drawback. Some of the statements made were simply not supported by empirical study. For example, why is an “inappropriate use” of dark glasses, a warning sign of a “loss of control” (p.39)?
If like myself however you are also a practitioner (or both practitioner and academic) you can see its value for a ground-staff audience. By this I mean that it has appeal for the uneducated or new staff member who is trying to manage and/or coordinate responses to actual and potentially threatening situations, which may or may not lead to displays of aggression. It also covers a very broad remit with a useful inclusion of anecdotes, which increases the accessibility of the text.
You also formed a view that whereas in parts it was rather up-to-date, such as the discussions focusing on the role of mental illness and aggression, in other sections it required updating. The “theories of human violence,” as one example, focused more on the correlates of aggression as opposed to what academics understand as theories.
This though is a likely product of an attempt to write in an accessible manner to a non-academic audience, and to cover a considerable amount of rather weighty academic content in an abbreviated text. In fact as I read the book I could see that it could work equally well as a series of handouts or “help-guides.”
Thus I would conclude by stating that if this book is read with the mindset that it is written for the lay-practitioner/staff-member who requires an accessible text that can give them some valuable pointers, then it is to be highly commended. Core academics or the highly specialized practitioner will not find it adds to their repertoire of knowledge but then I do not feel that this is the real aim of the book. In fact I would go as far to say that there is a market for more lay-accessible texts, such as this, that do make an attempt to educate on core relevant literature as opposed to pontificating on the authors chosen (often single) preference. The text certainly achieves this. (by Professor Jane L. Ireland)
International Journal of Emergency Mental Health (2010)
Dr. Ray Flannery, a respected expert on assault, violence, and trauma, continues his focus on assisting health-care provider’s deal with the potential violence inherent in their jobs. He dedicates this book to the “professionals in all disciplines who quietly and in self-effacing ways serve others in need, even in those situations that place their own lives and safety at risk. (p.15)”
Every year, health care providers and emergency responders are verbally, sexually assaulted, psychologically traumatized, injured, and even killed by the very people they are caring for. Those impacted by this interpersonal violence may be our colleagues or ourselves.
Throughout this book, he builds a checklist of safety guidelines. Each chapter ends with a summary table of the guidelines discussed so far in the book. For instance, at the end of chapter 1, the list includes Think Medical or Psychiatric Illness. Think Call Log. Think Scene Surveillance. Think Old Brain Stem. And Think Early Warning Signs. By the last chapter, he offers a total of ten safety and two self-care guides.
In the first part of his book, Dr. Flannery reviews the basic nature of behavioral emergencies, and general strategies for assessing and managing risk. As the originator of the Assaulted Staff Program (ASAP), he has logged 20 years of assault incident data. From this data, he presents the most common medical and psychiatric illnesses associated with violence, e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and substance abuse.
Dr. Flannery suggests that every act of violence involves a disruption of one or more of the three domains of good health caring attachments to others, reasonable mastery of our lives, and a meaningful purpose in life. When responders can identify in which domain the disruption is occurring, they can attempt to de-escalate the situation by focusing on the domain. He then reviews major theories of violence form cultural, biological, sociological, and psychological perspectives.
The four chapters comprising Part 2 focus on commonly encountered behavioral emergencies: psychological trauma, domestic violence, psychiatric emergencies, and youth violence. Dr. Flannery reviews the psychological dimensions of each potential emergency, then presents specific safety guidelines for that emergency.
A safety guideline consistently recommended throughout this book is forming an alliance with the person with whom you are working. He suggests focusing on the two of you resolving the current situation together, without violence, thus restoring that person’s sense of mastery.
The third chapter examines important self-care issues, including basic self-defense techniques, and health and wellness strategies. Dr. Flannery asserts that “violence occurs when effective communication fail, and good communication skills are important self-defense strategies” (p.137). He reviews essential nonverbal communication factors such as wardrobe, environment, posture, and tone of voice.
He then moves to verbal communication and verbal de-escalation tips. Once again, he advocates developing an alliance with the patient, asking permission before using first names, and developing alternatives and plans of action together with the person. He recommends de-escalation strategies such as giving the individual personal space, keeping the person talking, using a calm tone of voice, and continuously reminding the person of nonviolent alternatives.
I appreciated his comment in his chapter on Strategies for Health and Wellness “Since we can predict that our work in responding to behavioral emergencies will be stressful, and since we can also assume that we will encounter inevitable personal life-stress, we need to develop individualized programs to manage stress and reduce the potential negative impact from both” (p.150). He suggests several areas for focus such as wise lifestyle choices, time management.
Dr. Flannery closes with four case examples, illustrating the application for relevant guidelines from his list of ten safety and two self-care guidelines.
The Violent Person is a valuable tool for health care providers and emergency responders in all disciplines.
Raymond D. Flannery Jr.,PhD, FAPM, is the author of numerous articles addressing assault, violence, and psychological trauma plus six other books including Preventing Youth Violence: A Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Counselors; Violence in America: Coping with Drugs, Distressed Families, Inadequate Schooling, and Acts of Hate; and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: The Victim’s Guide to Healing and Recovery. Dr. Flannery is a licensed clinical psychologist associate clinical professor of psychology, Department of Psychology, Harvard Medical School.
- The Violent Person: Professional Risk Management Strategies for Safety and Care by Dr. Raymond B. Flannery Jr. an AMHF Book now available. From The Violent Person:
This book is based on the best-published research and standards of clinical practice and risk management approaches for professional health care providers and emergency services personnel....The violence inflicted by violent persons often occurs during behavioral emergencies when the potentially violent person is a patient or a client in need of medical or psychiatric care....The tasks in each behavioral emergency are twofold: (1) to provide the necessary medical or psychiatric care and (2) to do so in a way that reduces the risk of harm from the potentially violent person for all concerned. This book is written to help save lives.
Contents
Part 1: The Violent Person: Assessment/Risk Management
(1) Assessment/Risk Management
(2) Understanding Human Violence
Part 2: The Violent Person: Common Critical Incidents
(3) Psychological Trauma
(4) Domestic Violence
(5) Psychiatric Emergencies/Substance Abuse
(6) Youth Violence
Part 3: The Violent Person: Provider Self-care
(7) Strategies for Self-defense
(8) Strategies for Health and Wellness
(9) The Guidelines in Practice
Appendixes
(A) Relaxation Instructions
(B) Guidelines for Aerobic Exercises
Dr. Raymond B. Flannery Jr. is a licensed clinical psychologist; Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, The University of Massachusetts Medical School. He is the author of 7 books. In 2005, Dr. Flannery received a lifetime achievement award for excellence in crisis intervention research from The International Incident Stress Foundation.
The Violent Person is distributed by Lantern
Paperback $30.00 ISBN 978-1-59056-147-8
Hardcover $100.00 ISBN 978-1-59056-146-1
ebook $10.00 ISBN 978-1-596056-148-5
To order, please call 1-703-661-1594
Also available for Kindle reader.
As The Violent Person is issued, The American Mental Health Foundation celebrates its 85th anniversary. AMHF Books is an exciting new venture. The information in this clear-sighted book is not solely for professionals. Anyone with a concern for, and an interest in, the workings of the human brain would benefit from Dr. Flannery's jargon-free approach and decades of research and hands-on treatment.
The American Mental Health Foundation encourages submissions of book-length manuscripts on psychotherapy training, group psychotherapy, treatment of the elderly and disabled, the history of psychotherapy in the US and Europe, the religious and/or spiritual dimensions of the psychotherapy and psychology disciplines, as well as reference works devoted to any or all of these areas.
Under the direction of Evander Lomke, President & Executive Director of AMHF, and the supervision of Dr. William Van Ornum, this new publishing program continues and broadens the international-research mission of AMHF. Mr. Lomke and his colleagues at AMHF have developed publishing programs at Frederick Ungar, Seabury, Continuum, SteinerBooks, and Lantern. Mr. Lomke has edited such authorities as Reuben Fine, Robert T. Francoeur, Lucy Freeman, the posthumous writings of Erich Fromm, John Money, and Herbert Strean. Mr. Lomke is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and PEN, and is listed in Who's Who in America.
Please send all manuscripts, including, SASE for response, to:
AMHF Books
PO Box 3
Riverdale, NY 10471-0003
or to:
elomke@americanmentalhealthfoundation.org
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