title: Triage, decision-making and follow-up of patients referred to a UK forensic service: validation of the DUNDRUM toolkit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Forensic medium secure services in the UK are a scarce but essential resource providing care for those in the criminal justice system with severe mental disorder. Appropriate allocation of beds to those most in need is essential to ensure efficient use of this resource. To improve decision-making processes in a UK forensic service, an admissions panel utilized the DUNDRUM 1&2 (D1 & D2) triage instruments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic, diagnostic and clinical information on a prospective sample of referrals to a UK adult forensic service was gathered (n = 195). D1 and D2 measures were scored by a panel of clinical managers considering referral information and clinician opinion in reaching their ratings; those not admitted were also followed up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within the sample, D1 ratings were predictive of decisions to admit (AUC = .79) and also differentiated between levels of security (F(4) = 16.54, p < .001). Non-admission was not significantly associated with increased risk of offending at follow-up. Items relating to self-harm and institutional behaviour did not show a predictive relationship with the panel decision to admit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of a structured professional judgement tool showing good predictive validity has improved transparency of decisions and appears to be associated with more efficient use of resources, without increased risk to the public.
authors.affiliation: Violence Prevention Research Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, Garrod Building, London, E1 2AD, UK. m.c.freestone@qmul.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freestone
authors.affiliation: East London NHS Foundation Trust, John Howard Centre, London, E9 5TD, UK. debbie.bull@elft.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.affiliation: East London NHS Foundation Trust, John Howard Centre, London, E9 5TD, UK. rosslyn.brown@elft.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Roz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: East London NHS Foundation Trust, John Howard Centre, London, E9 5TD, UK. neilboast@blueyonder.co.uk.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boast
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK. faye.blazey@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Faye
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blazey
authors.affiliation: East London NHS Foundation Trust, John Howard Centre, London, E9 5TD, UK. paul.gilluley@elft.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gilluley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making / Q000379:methods*; D057237:Criminals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000517:prevention & control; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods