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"Coercion Experience Scale" (CES)--validation of a questionnaire on coercive measures
Jan Bergk1, Erich Flammer, Tilman Steinert
1Center for Psychiatry Suedwuerttemberg, Ulm University, Ravensburg-Weissenau, Germany. jan.bergk@zfp-weissenau.de
BMC Psychiatry
|January 16, 2010
Summary
The Coercion Experience Scale measures the psychological impact of psychiatric coercive interventions. This validated instrument helps compare interventions and screen patients for trauma-related support needs.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Limited trials exist for psychiatric coercive interventions.
- Existing outcome measures fail to capture subjective patient suffering and trauma.
- A need exists for instruments assessing patient experiences in psychiatric coercive contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an instrument for measuring the psychological impact of psychiatric coercive interventions.
- To create a tool applicable across different coercive measures for comparative research.
- To identify patient needs for post-intervention support.
Main Methods:
- A 44-item questionnaire was developed, including human rights restrictions and patient-reported stressors.
- Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with principal axis factoring (PAF) was performed.
- Items were retained based on factor loadings, and scale reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha.
Main Results:
- Analysis of 102 patients revealed six factors: Humiliation, Physical adverse effects, Separation, Negative environment, Fear, and Coercion.
- These factors explained 54.5% of the total variance.
- High internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha .67–.93) and significant convergent/discriminant validity were found.
Conclusions:
- The Coercion Experience Scale is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the psychological impact of psychiatric coercion.
- It can be utilized in research to compare interventions and in clinical practice for screening patients needing support.
- Further research is recommended to explore diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic implications.
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