BEST-Index

Welcome to the BEST-Index website. This site hosts both introductory information for prospective users and more comprehensive resources for present users and those involved in research connected to the BEST-Index.

The origins of the Behavioural Status Index (BEST-Index) (Reed, Woods et al, 2000) lie in developments in 1982 (Mahgoub, 1989) when a shortage of well-validated behavioural instruments to chart a patient’s social skills performance before and after therapy emphasised the need for such an instrument. Further studies of the developing instrument indicated high levels of internal consistency and potential for excellent inter-rater reliability (Woods, 2000) and predictive validity (Hollin and Holmes, 1999).

There are currently nine partners participating in a four country study of the impact of social skills profiling on individual care planning and on staff insight into patient needs. Funding was obtained from the EC in 2001 to carry out a three-year networking study of the BEST-Index This is being cross-validated on a European basis using a battery of well-tested instruments - PCL-R, HCR-20, SCL90-R and BDHI-D.

For more information about the BEST-Index, please go to the About BEST-Index section.

If you are a current user, visit the Current Users section to download the BEST-Index and view the training material. You will need a username and password to enter this section.

The Training Area contains materials for both trainers and trainees.

If you are interested in becoming a member then please visit the Prospective Users section.