Perceived coercion in psychiatric hospital admission: validation of the French-language version of the MacArthur Admission Experience Survey

BACKGROUND: The MacArthur Admission Experience Survey (AES) is a widely used tool to evaluate the level of perceived coercion experienced at psychiatric hospital admission. The French-language AES was prepared using a translation/back-translation procedure. It consists of 16 items and 3 subscores (perceived coercion, negative pressures and voice). This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the French-language AES. METHODS: 152 inpatients were evaluated. Reliability was estimated using internal consistency coefficients and a test–retest procedure. Internal validity was assessed using a two-parameter logistic item response model. Convergent validity was estimated using correlations between the AES scores and the Coercion Ladder (CL), the Coercion Experience Scale (CES) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. Discriminatory power was evaluated by comparing the scores of patients undergoing voluntary or compulsory admission. RESULTS: The French-language AES showed good internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Internal validity of the three-factor model was excellent. Correlations between AES and CL, CES and GAF scores suggested good convergent validity. AES scores were significantly higher among patients subject to compulsory psychiatric hospital admission than among those admitted voluntarily. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the French-language version of the AES demonstrated very good psychometric proprieties.