The Brøset violence checklist (BVC).

Objective: The Brøset violence checklist (BVC) is a short-term violence prediction instrument assessing confusion, irritability, boisterousness, verbal threats, physical threats and attacks on objects as either present or absent. The aim of this paper is to describe the evolution and usefulness of the BVC.

Method: This paper reviews studies on the BVC and discusses implications for further research.

Results: Empirical research has shown that it has moderate sensitivity and high specificity with an adequate inter-rater reliability.

Conclusion: The BVC is a useful instrument for predicting inpatient violence within the next 24-h period. The psychometric properties of the instrument are satisfactory. Results from ongoing studies will give important information on cultural differences, the validity of the BVC in less well staffed wards, the clinical use of the checklist and its ability to predict violence throughout all the hospital stay.