title: Reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the Behavioural Status Index: a nurse-rated forensic assessment tool.
abstract: The Behavioural Status Index (BEST-Index) has been introduced into Dutch forensic psychiatry to measure change in risk level of future violence. The BEST-Index is a structured observational measure that assesses aggressive behavior, degree of insight, social skills, self-care, and work and leisure skills during inpatient treatment. Thus far, limited information regarding the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the BEST-Index is available. The present study examines the reliability and validity of the Dutch BEST-Index in a sample of 291 mentally disordered offenders admitted to a forensic psychiatric hospital. Interrater reliability was investigated in a sample of 182 raters. Findings show that the Dutch BEST-Index can be used reliably and is significantly associated with risk of future violence and institutional aggression. Furthermore, this study revealed a different and clearer factor structure compared with the original one. Further research is needed to examine how these derived factors predict future recidivism.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Psychiatric Centre de Rooyse Wissel. f.chakhssi@dji.minjus.nl
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chakhssi
authors.forename: Corine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Ruiter
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D009426:Netherlands; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000592:standards*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations