[Determining security need in forensic psychiatric patients: HoNOS-Secure and DUNDRUM-1].

Forensic psychiatric patients can be treated in different security levels. Clear criteria to estimate the required security level or transfer to a less secure setting are not yet available. A literature review shows that, of the few instruments that are used internationally, the DUNDRUM and the HoNOS-Secure are the most promising.
AIM: To investigate whether these instruments can be used in Flemish forensic psychiatric settings.
METHOD: DUNDRUM-1 scores were collected for 150 internees. The psychometric qualities of the scale were examined. In a subpopulation, the DUNDRUM-1 was compared with the HoNOS-Secure.
RESULTS: The psychometric properties of the DUNDRUM-1 were good and exceeded those of the HoNOS-Secure.
CONCLUSION: The DUNDRUM-1 is an instrument that can help clinicians and judges to better - and in a more transparent way - substantiate their decision-making to secure care. However, further research regarding the practical applicability is needed.