An overview of instruments used in clinical psychiatric research in the Nordic countries

All instruments which shall evaluate psychopathology have to be used in the native language of the patients. This article gives an inventory of the instuments which are available in the various Nordic languages. Thus it is of fundamental importance when planning Nordic collaborative projects in the field of forensic psychiatric research. The conclusion is that a considerable number of commonly used instruments for clinical psychiatric research have been translated and can be applied to Nordic projects. However, before an instrument is chosen, an examination of the national translation, use and psychometrics has to be done.