A patient presented with an opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome after a 2-week period of fever. In her work as an assistant nurse, she had been exposed to patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Laboratory investigations showed that the patient had positive IgG antibodies against this pathogen, and a chest CT showed changes compatible with this infection. Other known causes for this syndrome were excluded. Our case shows that the opsoclonusmyoclonus-ataxia syndrome can occur as a post-/para-infectious manifestation in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.

Expert testimonies and judges of 224 lawsuits of the years 1991 to 2001, who lead to the order of Preventive Detention in the German federal states of Bavaria, Brandenburg, Northrhine Westfalia and Saxony were analysed. Offenders with the order of Preventive Detention have mostly committed violent and/or sexual offences. Nearly two third of the inmates show personality traits with relevance for psychiatry or even personality disorders. Thus the discrimination between forensic psychiatric measurements and preventive detention is difficult. The quality of forensic psychiatric reports does not reflect the complexity of this task. They show diagnostic and prognostic weaknesses.

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Zusammenfassung am beispiel von gutachten zur Frage einer Hangtäterschaft gemäß § 66 Stgb wurde untersucht, inwiefern die juristischen gutachtenaufträge geeignet sind, die psychowissenschaftlichen gutachter zu leiten und auf ihre Fachlichkeit zu beschränken. außerdem wurden begründungen für die Übernahme der gutachtenergebnisse durch die gerichte und sachverständige bzw. juristische argumentationen zum Vorliegen eine "Hanges zur begehung erheblicher Straftaten" ausgewertet. Die ergebnisse der Untersuchung machen deutlich, dass sowohl die auftragserteilung als auch die richterliche Würdigung der gutachtenergebnisse formelhaft geschieht. Sowohl die gutachterliche als auch die juristische argumentation zum Hang bezieht sich vorwiegend auf aspekte der Delinquenzgeschichte. Überlegungen zur Persönlichkeit rezidivierender Straftäter treten demgegenüber in den Hintergrund, obwohl sie bei begutachtung der Voraussetzungen einer Hangtä-terschaft wesentlich zielführender wären. Die arbeit wird deutlich machen, dass im interdisziplinären Spannungsfeld der Sachverständigenexpertise weiterhin abstimmungsbedarf zwischen Justiz und Psychowissenschaften besteht.Schlüsselwörter Sicherungsverwahrung · Hang · Forensische Psychiatrie · gutachten · Kriminalprognose Abstract Using the example of psychiatric expert opinions in trials leading to preventive detention, we analysed how far the corresponding orders by the courts were suited to guide the psychiatric experts and restrict them to their area of expertise. Furthermore we concentrated on the question, what reasons were given for preventive detention on both psychiatric and judicial side and how psychiatric arguments were adopted by the judges. Our results show clearly, that placing an order with the psychiatric expert as well as adopting the psychiatric arguments for preventive detention occur mainly in a stereotypic way. Psychiatric and judicial arguments for preventive detention refer both to previous delinquency. aspects concerning the offenders personality appear to be secondary, although they play a major role in the decision for preventive detention. the article shows the controversy associated with forensic-psychiatric expertise in the courtroom and the need for communication and clarification between psychiatry and law.

In the last decade, preventive detention-especially that relating to sexual offenders- has gained relevance for the German legal system. However, data are lacking concerning the inmates and the modus operandi of the psychiatric experts. Court orders and psychiatric statements of 114 offenders with orders of preventive detention were examined, 57 of whom were incarcerated because of sexual offences. Sexual offenders mostly show antisocial personality traits or even disorders, with a history of poly-trophic delinquency. In only four cases, the diagnosis of a sexual disorder was given. The analysis showed a high rate of psychiatric expert testimonies' lacking basic information, with incomplete assessment of sexual history. None of the experts used standardized prognostic instruments, meaning that most of the risk factors included in the Sexual Violence Risk-20 and the Static-99 were not considered. Further work needs to be done to improve the quality of psychiatric statements concerning sexual offenders.