
The use of test instruments in forensic report writing : explorative research in Flanders
- Author
- Machteld De Clercq and Freya Vander Laenen (UGent)
- Organization
- Abstract
- Background Forensic psychiatric reports have a profound impact on the life of a defendant, on society and on the mental health system. Good-quality reports are essential but are often criticized for their lack of thorough substantiation. The use of multiple methods to obtain information, test instruments (psychological and/or risk) and third-party information are recommended. Study purpose To explore the use of test instruments and third-party information, as part of a multi-method approach, in forensic psychiatric evaluations. We examined 151 court-ordered expert reports in Flanders (Belgium). Results A psychological test instrument was used in 61% of the cases, and a risk taxation instrument in 19% of the cases. Third-party information was used in 43% of the cases. Conclusions A multi-method approach is not common practice in forensic psychiatric evaluations. The use of validated test instruments and third-party information can be improved. The quality of forensic reports could be improved by the establishment of a forensic observation centre and the use of a standardized approach.
- Keywords
- Forensic psychiatric report writing, Test instruments, Third-party information
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8620416
- MLA
- De Clercq, Machteld, and Freya Vander Laenen. “The Use of Test Instruments in Forensic Report Writing : Explorative Research in Flanders.” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LAW AND PSYCHIATRY, vol. 66, 2019.
- APA
- De Clercq, M., & Vander Laenen, F. (2019). The use of test instruments in forensic report writing : explorative research in Flanders. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LAW AND PSYCHIATRY, 66.
- Chicago author-date
- De Clercq, Machteld, and Freya Vander Laenen. 2019. “The Use of Test Instruments in Forensic Report Writing : Explorative Research in Flanders.” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LAW AND PSYCHIATRY 66.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- De Clercq, Machteld, and Freya Vander Laenen. 2019. “The Use of Test Instruments in Forensic Report Writing : Explorative Research in Flanders.” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LAW AND PSYCHIATRY 66.
- Vancouver
- 1.De Clercq M, Vander Laenen F. The use of test instruments in forensic report writing : explorative research in Flanders. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LAW AND PSYCHIATRY. 2019;66.
- IEEE
- [1]M. De Clercq and F. Vander Laenen, “The use of test instruments in forensic report writing : explorative research in Flanders,” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LAW AND PSYCHIATRY, vol. 66, 2019.
@article{8620416, abstract = {Background Forensic psychiatric reports have a profound impact on the life of a defendant, on society and on the mental health system. Good-quality reports are essential but are often criticized for their lack of thorough substantiation. The use of multiple methods to obtain information, test instruments (psychological and/or risk) and third-party information are recommended. Study purpose To explore the use of test instruments and third-party information, as part of a multi-method approach, in forensic psychiatric evaluations. We examined 151 court-ordered expert reports in Flanders (Belgium). Results A psychological test instrument was used in 61% of the cases, and a risk taxation instrument in 19% of the cases. Third-party information was used in 43% of the cases. Conclusions A multi-method approach is not common practice in forensic psychiatric evaluations. The use of validated test instruments and third-party information can be improved. The quality of forensic reports could be improved by the establishment of a forensic observation centre and the use of a standardized approach.}, articleno = {101454}, author = {De Clercq, Machteld and Vander Laenen, Freya}, issn = {0160-2527 }, journal = {INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LAW AND PSYCHIATRY}, keywords = {Forensic psychiatric report writing,Test instruments,Third-party information}, language = {eng}, title = {The use of test instruments in forensic report writing : explorative research in Flanders}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2019.101454}, volume = {66}, year = {2019}, }
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