Validation of the full and brief Externalizing Spectrum Inventory in Dutch forensic inpatients

Abstract

The Externalizing Spectrum Inventory (ESI) was designed for assessing a broad spectrum of externalizing problems, including impulsive-aggressive behavior and substance abuse. After translation of the ESI into Dutch, a computerized version of the full Dutch ESI (ESI-NL) was administered to a mixed sample consisting of inpatients in forensic and addiction care (n = 99) and non-psychiatric community participants (n = 104). Internal consistencies, test–retest reliabilities, ‘predictive’ validity of the full and 160-item ESI-NL total scores and subscales were examined, along with the correlations between these two versions. The results indicated high reliability and predictive validity for both versions and a strong similarity between the two in direct comparisons. The 160-item Dutch ESI is recommended for clinical studies on violence proneness and externalizing problem behavior.

Keywords:

• externalizing
• violence proneness
• substance-related disorders
• co-occurrence
• test validation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the DJI from the Ministry of Justice of The Netherlands [grant number 5620076/09/] and by funding of Tactus Addiction Care in the Netherlands.