Forensic psychiatric assessment process and outcome in state patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Houidi, A. Ben; Paruk, Saeeda; Sartorius, Benn

doi:10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v24i0.1142

Cited by 9 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…5,7,19,21,22,23 The finding that there is an association between employment status and fitness to stand trial corresponds with the findings of another South African study. 24 In a study that examined characteristics of IPH perpetrators, mental illness was rarely diagnosed before the incident, 17 contrary to a Dutch study which showed that 59% of offenders had previous contact with psychiatric services. 23 Our study showed that 20% of the sample had been diagnosed with a mental illness prior to the offence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Characteristics of persons accused of intimate partner homicide amongst forensic psychiatric observations

Valabdass

Subramaney

Edge

2021

South African Journal of Psychiatry

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Background: Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a global public health problem. One study conducted over 66 countries found that 13.5% of all homicides and 38.6% of female homicides were committed by an intimate partner. In South Africa, there were no published studies that examine alleged perpetrators of IPH that were referred for forensic psychiatric observation.Aim: To describe the profile of accused persons referred for forensic psychiatric observation for a charge of murder or attempted murder of their intimate partners. Certain characteristics were further examined according to the psychiatric observation outcomes.Setting: The study was conducted at Sterkfontein Hospital, a forensic psychiatric hospital in Gauteng, South Africa.Methods: A retrospective record review of accused persons referred for forensic psychiatric observation for a charge of murder or attempted murder of their intimate partners was conducted. The period of the review was 19 years. The definition of intimate partners included current or former spouses and partners, same-sex partners and rejected suitors.Results: One hundred and sixty-three files, which included forensic psychiatric reports, were reviewed. The findings related to the profile of accused persons and offence characteristics indicated that: (1) history of violent behaviour is prevalent; (2) homicides mostly occur in private homes; (3) knives and firearms are most often used; (4) infidelity, separation and jealousy are common motives; (5) psychotic disorders, personality disorders and substance use disorders feature prominently. A total of 88% of the sample were found fit to stand trial and 82% were found criminally responsible. Factors significantly associated with being found fit to stand trial and criminally responsible following the forensic psychiatric observation were: male gender, having received a tertiary education, employment prior to the offence, earning a salary of more than R10 000, having no previous psychiatric or medical illness, a positive forensic history, previous intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, indicating a motive for the homicide, having no psychiatric illness at the time of the offence which would impact fitness to stand trial and criminal responsibility.Factors significantly associated with being found not fit to stand trial and not criminally responsible following the forensic psychiatric observation were: female gender, having received a primary education, unemployment prior to the offence, having a previous psychiatric or medical illness, no forensic history, no previous IPV perpetration, not indicating a motive for the homicide, having a psychiatric illness at the time of the offence which would impact fitness to stand trial and criminal responsibility.Conclusion: The characteristics highlighted in this study can contribute to the development of risk assessment tools which can be used to identify likely perpetrators of IPH. Other interventions, for example controlling access to knives and firearms, reducing substance abuse and improving mental health services, are also important in the prevention of IPH.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Characteristics of persons accused of intimate partner homicide amongst forensic psychiatric observations

Valabdass

Subramaney

Edge

2021

South African Journal of Psychiatry

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“…El presente estudio es el primero en el Perú que cuantifica a las personas inimputables por trastornos mentales que pasaron por el sistema penitenciario a nivel nacional, y describe sus características epidemio- Los resultados sociodemográficos obtenidos permitieron identificar un perfil característico de los pacientes inimputables en la muestra estudiada: de sexo masculino, mediana edad, procedente de la capital o de la sierra, con diferentes años de secundaria concluidos, desempleado o con trabajos sin formación académica especializada, sin pareja e hijos. Este perfil concuerda con otros estudios peruanos 16,17,24 , latinoamericanos 6,25 , europeos 26,27 y africanos 28 . Por otro lado, el estudio realizado en los Estados Unidos encontró una edad media de 42,2 años, mayor que en el presente estudio, aunque solamente se consideraron los inimputables por delitos sexuales.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Legal, medical and epidemiological characteristics of persons exempt from criminal liability in the National Prison Institute of Peru, 2014-2019

Sindeev

2021

Rev Esp Sanid Penit

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Objectives: To describe and correlate the epidemiological, clinical and legal characteristics of persons exempt from criminal liability registered in the National Prison Institute of Peru in the period 2014-2019. Material and method: Retrospective, cross-sectional descriptive study with correlational components and secondary sources. The sample consisted of all the persons exempt from criminal liability who formed part of the prison population of Peru during the study period. A validated data collection sheet was used. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics using SPSS v24 software. For inferential analysis, a simple binary logistic regression was carried out. Results: A total of 179 persons exempt from criminal liability were identified in 36 Peruvian prisons; 94.4% were males, with an average age of 35 years; 6.1% were undocumented. 67.0% had a diagnosis of the schizophrenia spectrum. The main crimes were against freedom (39.1%) and against life, body and health (36.8%). In 74.6% of cases, the duration of involuntary commitment was more than five years; 11.5% remained in prison after the date of release. In 18.4%, involuntary commitment was established by the Peruvian National Prison Institute. Associations between variables such as diagnosis, type and severity of the crime were found. Discussion: Aspects that violate national and international regulations (excessive length of involuntary commitment, in unsuitable locations, unjustified imprisonment, etc.) were identified, affecting the fundamental human rights of persons exempt from criminal liability in prison.

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“…Violent crimes are the usual reason for admission to forensic psychiatric units; however, one South African study found that there were cases of individuals being declared state patients even when they did not commit serious crimes. 16 Notably from a South African perspective, there have been two studies from two academic centres that have looked at the profiles of state patients in a specific time frame. 17 , 18 These two studies, however, did not investigate trends in their state patient profiles over a specific time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Throughout the 10-year period of the study, the demographic profiles of the state patients were generally in line with that found in local and international literature where the majority were male, single and unemployed. 16 , 17 , 19 , 20 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

State patients who committed violent crimes and were admitted to Weskoppies Hospital from 2005 to 2014: Profiles and trends

Dewet

Kotzé

Sokudela

2020

South African Journal of Psychiatry

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Background Most of the available literature focus on characteristics of violent offenders and trends of crime patterns in the general population. The crime trends in the population of those who may be mentally ill have not been well described. Aim To describe the profiles and trends of mentally ill persons who committed violent crimes prior to admission as state patients. Setting The study was conducted at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital. Method A retrospective record review of state patients admitted between 2005 and 2014 was conducted to describe demographic, clinical, forensic and victim profiles of state patients admitted from 2005 to 2014. Trends over time were also assessed. Results Hundred and seventy state patient files were reviewed. The majority were males (91.43%), with a history of substance use (55.0%) %), previous psychiatric treatment (46.4%), and diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (82.1%). The 10 year trend showed that murder was the leading charge during 2006 and 2007. It was surpassed by sexual assault crimes as the most common charge after 2007, except for 2009 when murder was again the most common. From 2010 onward, sexual assault remained the most common offence leading to admission as a state patient. Conclusion This study found changes over time in crime patterns of state patients who committed murder and sexual assault. State patients may have different criminal patterns than the general public. This together with the high rates of substance use and previous psychiatric treatment can be important focus areas for future research.

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Forensic psychiatric assessment process and outcome in state patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Cited by 9 publications

References 10 publications

Characteristics of persons accused of intimate partner homicide amongst forensic psychiatric observations

Characteristics of persons accused of intimate partner homicide amongst forensic psychiatric observations

Legal, medical and epidemiological characteristics of persons exempt from criminal liability in the National Prison Institute of Peru, 2014-2019

State patients who committed violent crimes and were admitted to Weskoppies Hospital from 2005 to 2014: Profiles and trends

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