Psychometric properties of the Dynamic Risk Outcome Scales (DROS) for individuals with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning and externalizing behaviour problems

Background The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Dynamic Risk Outcome Scales (DROS), an instrument developed to measure dynamic risk factors in individuals with mild intellectual disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning (MID-BIF) and externalizing (including offending-like) behaviour problems. Method The sample consisted of 606 clients (86% male) from inpatient treatment wards at a facility for individuals withMID-BIFand externalizing behaviour problems. Results TheDROSshowed an acceptable factor structure, good internal consistency, significant test-retest reliability and fair to excellent inter-rater reliabilities for most subscales and total score. Compared to the Adult Behavior Checklist (ABCL; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2003Manual for the ASEBA adult forms and profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth, & Families), theDROSshowed convergent and divergent validity, concurrent and longitudinal validity. Conclusions TheDROSis a reliable and valid instrument to measure dynamic risk factors in clients withMID-BIF. Future research on theDROSwill focus on the assessment of recidivism and the inclusion of internalizing problems.