START Assessment
Also written as: START — Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability
Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability; a structured clinical tool used in psychiatric settings to evaluate both risk and protective factors for multiple adverse outcomes including self-harm, violence, and substance abuse.
Full Definition
The Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) is a structured professional judgement instrument developed for use in mental health settings to guide short-term clinical risk assessment and treatment planning. Unlike instruments focused solely on risk factors, the START explicitly incorporates protective (or 'strength') items alongside vulnerability items, enabling a more balanced clinical picture. In emergency psychiatry, START findings are referenced in risk formulations, admission justifications, and handover documentation. Editors should expand the acronym on first use and note that 'START Assessment' is a trademarked instrument name — avoid paraphrasing the name in ways that might misattribute its methodology.
Usage
Usage note: Always expand on first use as 'Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START).' Do not confuse with the unrelated STAMP acronym used in agitation screening.
In Context
- "The multidisciplinary team completed a START assessment at admission to establish baseline risk and protective factor profiles." — Inpatient psychiatric admission documentation
- "When editing the handover summary, ensure the START assessment scores are reported as both vulnerability and strength ratings, as omitting either section misrepresents the tool's output." — Editorial style guidance