About BEST-Index

What is the Behavioural Status Index (BEST-Index)?

• it is a classification instrument assessing widespread skills in our social environment.
• it was developed in response to lack of valid and reliable behaviourally-based assessments.
• it is designed to aid assessment in a variety of psychiatric contexts and provide data to inform therapeutic interventions.

It takes a different approach to the usual clinical orientation, it:

• presents a range of normal behaviours
• is criterion-referenced
• uses step-wise analysis

The BEST-Index comprises six sub-scales;

• Social Risk
• Insight
• Communication and Social Skills
• Work and Recreational Activities
• Self and Family Care
• Empathy

What is the Community Living Skills (Comskills) study?

The Community Living Skills study is funded for three years by the European Commission and involves nine partners in Germany, Holland, Norway and the UK. Assessments have been devised to help people caring for offenders in mental health units to highlight individual needs so that better planned care can be given. The assessments consist of simple observations on a person's behaviour using the BEST-Index. They are more detailed than 'standard' observations and their purpose is to guide treatment and/or care as effectively as possible. They deal with everyday things like self-care, conversation and friendships, social activities, work and play, sensitivities to others, and so on.