Validation of the Booth Evaluation of Absconding Tool for Assessment of Absconding Risk

Article Figures & Data

Table 1

Domains and Constituent Items of BEAT

Historical	Past elopement; Deceitfulness; Past substance use; Past impulsiveness
Clinical	Follows rules; Psychosis influencing risk; Apathy/hopelessness; Substance use urges; Medication nonadherence; Plan to leave; Recent destabilization
Psychosocial	Hospital stressors; External stressors; Legal stressors
Administrative	High-violent index; External contacts; Acute risk to others; Substance use; Extended leave; Media attention; Suicide/harm to patient; Exploitation of patient; Antisociality/criminality
Protective	Hospital ties; Insight for consequences; Physical impairment; Psychological impairment; Other protective
Clinical Judgement/Case Formulation	Overall risk; Individual factors/likely scenario; Scoring bias and confidence; Risk management plan

Table 2

Demographics of Offender Type, Offense History, Offense Type, and Psychiatric Diagnosis

	Absconders	Controls
Age (at earliest incident), y	33.72 ± 10.6	31.81 ± 6.2
Male	44 (77.2)	23 (88.5)
Offender type
NCRMD	50 (87.7)	23 (88.5)
Unfit	4 (8.8)	2 (7.7)
Under assessment	0 (0.0)	1 (3.8)
Other/missing	3 (3.5)	0 (0.0)
Offense history	6.7 ± 8.4	4.1 ± 8.7
Most serious offense
Major assault	22 (38.6)	8 (30.8)
Minor assault	8 (14.0)	7 (26.9)
Threats	5 (8.8)	1 (3.8)
Reckless driving	3 (5.3)	0 (0.0)
Arson	2 (3.5)	2 (7.7)
Theft	2 (3.5)	2 (7.7)
Failure to comply	2 (3.5)	2 (7.7)
Homicide	2 (3.5)	1 (3.8)
Weapon	2 (3.5)	1 (3.8)
Robbery	2 (3.5)	0 (0.0)
Sex offense (physical contact)	0 (0.0)	1 (3.8)
Other	5 (8.8)	1 (3.8)
Diagnosis
Psychotic disorders	38 (70.3)	23 (88.5)
Mood disorders	12 (22.2)	2 (7.7)
Substance use disorders	39 (72.2)	19 (73.1)
Antisocial traits or disorder	6 (11.1)	5 (19.2)

Table 4

Characteristics of Unauthorized Leave Incidents

Age at time of incident, y	33.3 ± 10.1
Absconded from
Indirectly supervised (grounds)	62 (51.7)
Indirectly supervised (community)	18 (15.0)
Unit	16 (13.3)
Community pass accompanied or with approved person	12 (10.0)
Supervised grounds	7 (5.8)
Overnight pass	1 (0.8)
Location during leave
Within city limits	62 (51.7)
Outside city limits but in Ontario	22 (18.3)
Home of family or a friend	12 (10.0)
Own home	6 (5.0)
Outside of Ontario	4 (3.3)
Within hospital	4 (3.3)
Shelter	3 (2.5)
Other hospital	2 (1.7)
Use substances (yes)	52 (43.3)
Alcohol	34 (65.4)
Marijuana	21 (40.4)
Cocaine	6 (11.5)
Amphetamines	5 (9.6)
Offend while abscond?	6 (5.0)
Violent offense	1 (0.8)
Victim of violence	1 (0.8)
Attempt or ideation of suicide	1 (0.8)
Return to hospital
Self	51 (42.5)
Law enforcement	45 (37.5)
Hospital staff	14 (11.7)
Other	6 (5.0)
Time away
< 30 min	8 (6.7)
0.5–2 h	22 (18.3)
2–6 h	25 (20.8)
6–24 h	30 (25.0)
24–72 h	12 (10.0)
72 h to 1 week	7 (5.8)
> 1 week	11 (9.2)

Data are presented as n (%) or mean ± SD. N = 120. Study period: April 2009 to December 2016.

Table 6

Specific Items Showing Significant Predictive Ability