Short-term risk assessments in an acute psychiatric inpatient setting: A re-examination of the Brøset Violence Checklist using repeated measurements – Differentiating violence characteristics and gender

This study investigated the association between short-term risk assessment measured by the Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC) and imminent violence using repeated measurements and differentiating violence characteristics and gender. All patients admitted to an acute psychiatric ward during one year (N = 528) were included. Logistic regression and generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) analyses were conducted. Results confirmed BVC's suitability for both male and female inpatients throughout their hospitalization also when differentiating threats and physical violence, and adjusting for diagnostic subpopulations and circadian variability. Results point to modified interpretations of the BVC sum scores. Future research should adjust for repeated measurements. •The Brøset Violence Checklist is suitable within an acute psychiatric setting.•Predicts imminent threats and –physical violence throughout hospitalisations•No gender difference in the association of sum scores with imminent violence•Points to modified interpretations when conducted at the end of nursing shifts•Statistics adjusting for repeated measurements increase the predictive validity