Assessing Aggressive Behavior in Forensic Psychiatric Patients: Validity and Clinical Utility of Combining Two Instruments

Accurate observation of aggressive behavior among forensic psychiatric patients requires valid instruments. This study examines the validity and clinical utility of combining the social dysfunction and aggression scale (SDAS) and staff observation aggression scale revised (SOAS-R). Nurses weekly obt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of psychiatric nursing 2012-12, Vol.26 (6), p.487-494
Main Authors: Kobes, Marjolein H.B.M., Nijman, Henk H.L.I., Bulten, Erik B.H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aggression
Aggression - psychology
Aggressiveness
Conjunction
Convergent validity
Dysfunction
Forensic psychiatry
Forensic Psychiatry - methods
Hospitals, Psychiatric
Humans
Male
Measuring instruments
Mentally ill people
Middle Aged
Netherlands
Nursing
Observer Variation
Principal Component Analysis
Prisons
Psychiatric-mental health nursing
Psychometrics - methods
Reliability
Reproducibility of Results
Validity
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Summary:Accurate observation of aggressive behavior among forensic psychiatric patients requires valid instruments. This study examines the validity and clinical utility of combining the social dysfunction and aggression scale (SDAS) and staff observation aggression scale revised (SOAS-R). Nurses weekly obtained SDAS scores of 127 patients, resulting in 6.124 assessments. Aggressive incidents were documented by the SOAS-R. Internal consistency, subscale structure, interobserver reliability of the SDAS, and convergent validity with SOAS-R were analyzed. A three-factor solution was found. Interobserver reliability was moderate, and good convergent validity was found. The SDAS, in conjunction with the SOAS-R, monitors changes in aggressiveness and may contribute to the prevention of aggressive behavior.
ISSN:0883-9417
1532-8228
DOI:10.1016/j.apnu.2012.04.004