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The association between legal charge and psychiatric diagnosis in a competency-to-stand-trial population

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Summary

The relationship between legal charge and psychiatric diagnosis in a competency-to-stand-trial population was examined in 390 consecutive admissions to the Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Court Clinic. Eight mutually exclusive groups of psychiatric diagnoses and seven categories of legal charge were used. A chi-square analysis was significant (X 2=59.50,P<0.05) in showing an interaction. It appears the defendants with organic brain syndrome and alcohol abuse diagnoses may commit relatively more assaults and sexual offenses, and defendants with substance abuse or mental retardation diagnoses commit relatively more robberies and larcenies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

    James Reich

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    James Wells

Authors
  1. James Reich
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  2. James Wells
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Reich, J., Wells, J. The association between legal charge and psychiatric diagnosis in a competency-to-stand-trial population. Soc Psychiatry 21, 206–209 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00584002

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00584002

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