| VICTIM AND PATIENT ASSESSMENT |
The dictionary defines a victim as a person who has been wronged. We have extended this definition to include "victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse." By our definition, many patients meet the victim criteria.
And, for a variety of reasons, victim assessment is approached more delicately and cautiously than client or offender screening. One hesitates before questioning the honesty of the victim. Other sensitive areas include resistance, suicidal ideation and substance (alcohol and other drugs) abuse. These are particularly difficult areas of inquiry when the counselor, therapist or treatment provider become the victim's advocate. But, empathy doesn’t change the fact that victims, like many people, have pre-existing and co-existing problems that must be resolved if treatment is going to be effective.
Other more traditional areas of clinical inquiry include distress, morale, self-esteem and stress handling abilities, which are less sensitive to many victims, counselors and therapists. However, when we philosophize about evaluation issues, we can’t avoid the fundamental question "What intake information is important to victim understanding and relevant to their treatment?" Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc.'s (Risk & Needs') staff believes that all of the above areas of intake inquiry are important to victim understanding and treatment planning.
| 8 VICTIM INDEX SCALES | |
| 1. Truthfulness Scale | 5. Resistance Scale |
| 2. Distress Scale |
6. Suicide Ideation |
| 3. Morale Scale |
7.
Substance Abuse Scale |
| 4. Self-Esteem Scale |
8. Stress Coping Abilities Scale |
Why use the Victim Index (VI)? When testing victims, it’s important to determine what their problems and needs are. Early problem detection facilitates quicker intervention and treatment. This information can help in understanding the victim, their presenting problems and other contributing factors. It is equally important to know when the victim is problem free. At one sitting of approximately 25 minutes' duration, staff can acquire a vast amount of important victim information that can accelerate understanding and subsequent treatment, when warranted.
The Victim Index (VI) has empirically demonstrated reliability, validity and accuracy. This information is available in the document "VI: An Inventory of Scientific Findings." The VI is an objective and standardized assessment intake instrument or test. If you are searching for a victim intake test, we recommend you consider the Victim Index (VI).