RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 An Analogue Study of the Factors Influencing Competency Decisions
JF Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
JO J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
FD American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
SP 587
OP 594
VO 22
IS 4
A1 Blashfield, Roger K.
A1 Robbins, Lynn
A1 Barnard, George W.
YR 1994
UL http://jaapl.org/content/22/4/587.abstract
AB Forensic psychiatrists who were members of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law analyzed case histories to make a competency or incompetency decision. The case histories were created to alter background information, diagnostic information, information about the defendants’ understanding of the adversarial process, courtroom behavior, and the nature of the crime. The information that had the most influence on the decisions of the forensic psychiatrists included the cognitive status of the defendant, psychotic features, courtroom behavior, and understanding of the adversarial process. Relationship with the lawyer, alcohol/drug use history, psychiatric history, and criminal history had less influence. The forensic psychiatrists tended to “error” toward a decision for competency unless compelling evidence was presented to the contrary.