Danger Assessment Tool for Domestic Abuse
Danger Assessment Calculator
1. Has the physical violence increased in severity or frequency over the past year?
2. Does partner own a gun?
3. Have you left partner after living together during the past year?
4. Is partner unemployed?
5. Has partner ever used a weapon against you or threatened you with a lethal weapon?
6. Does partner threaten to kill you?
7. Has partner avoided being arrested for domestic violence?
8. Do you have a child that is not his/hers?
9. Has partner ever forced you to have sex when you did not wish to?
10. Does partner ever try to choke you?
11. Does partner use illegal drugs (e.g., stimulants, speed)?
12. Is partner an alcoholic or problem drinker?
13. Does partner control most or all of your daily activities?
14. Is partner violently and constantly jealous of you?
15. Have you ever been beaten by partner while pregnant?
16. Has partner ever threatened or tried to commit suicide?
17. Does partner threaten to harm your children?
18. Do you believe partner is capable of killing you?
19. Does partner follow or spy on you, leave threatening notes or messages?
20. Have you ever threatened or tried to commit suicide?
Danger Assessment Score:
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Predicts risk of death by an intimate partner (IP) in a violent intimate relationship.
When to Use
Use in female patients presenting to the emergency department after assault by an intimate partner or former partner.
Formula
Addition of the selected points. Ask the patient: Questions Points Has the physical violence increased in frequency or severity over the past 6 months? No 0 Yes 1 Have they ever used a weapon or threatened you with a weapon? No 0 Yes 1 Do you believe they are capable of killing you? No 0 Yes 1 Have you ever been beaten by them while you were pregnant? No 0 Yes 1 Are they violently and constantly jealous of you? No 0 Yes 1
Advice
Patients not meeting high risk criteria should still be fully informed of the risk of repeat violence and given resources such as informational material and hotline numbers.
More Information
Interpretation: Danger Assessment Score Risk of potentially lethal assault by IP <3 Low ≥3 High* *83% sensitive for lethal or potentially lethal assaults (defined as actions by the abuser that had the potential to kill but did not, such as use of a knife or gun, choking (strangulation), attempted murder, and burning) ( Snider 2009 ).