[A short questionnaire for assessing the social climate on forensic psychiatric wards]

To examine statistical properties and the validity of a ward climate questionnaire for forensic psychiatric institutions. The 15 item instrument comprises three climate dimensions: Patients' Cohesion and Social Support, Safety (vs. threat by aggression and violence) and Therapeutic Hold.

On 46 wards in 17 forensic hospitals in Germany, patients and staff filled in the climate questionnaire and further scales, among them the "Ward Atmosphere Scale" and a "Good Milieu Index". Problem events (e. g. wilful damage of property, drug relapse) were listed on each ward over a period of three weeks.

333 staff and 327 patients participated in the study. For both groups, factor analysis of item-intercorrelation generates clear 3-factor-solutions. Item-total correlation and the scales' internal consistencies (Cronbach's alpha = 0.73 - 0.87) are respectable. Correlation analysis evinces many substantial interrelations with other variables. Staff's climate assessments correlate much stronger with patients' climate assessments than with staff's job satisfaction.

The climate questionnaire is an economic and valid instrument for assessing three meaningful aspects of the ward atmosphere in forensic psychiatry. An English version of the questionnaire--termed Essen Climate Evaluation Schema (EssenCES)--can be downloaded from the internet homepage of the Institute of Forensic Psychiatry Essen ( www.forensik-essen.de ).