Manifestation of Psychological Disorders in Medico-Legal Cases
- 1 Punjab Institute of Mental Health, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The relationship between mental illnesses and criminal behavior is a topic of debate for last many years. It is a popular thinking that people with mental illnesses are more vulnerable towards aggression, violence, and other criminal acts. The aim of the present study was to examine the manifestation of psychological disorders in cases referred to Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH), Lahore Pakistan for forensic psychological assessment. The archival data from the year 2017 to 2019 of cases was obtained from patient clerk of PIMH. Results indicated that total cases that reported were 174. More men ( f = 145, 83.3%) were reported for forensic assessment as compared to women ( f = 29, 16.7%). As far as residential area was concerned more cases came from urban areas ( f = 94, 54%) as compared to rural areas ( f = 80, 46%). The most reported criminal act was a threat to harm and murder. The aggression and murder cases were more reported from rural background. Intellectual disability ( f = 56, 32.2%) and schizophrenia ( f = 51, 29.3%) was the highest reported diagnosis. Intellectual disability was reported more from urban background whereas schizophrenia reported more from rural background. Chi-square results showed significant relationship between criminal acts and psychiatric illnesses, significant relationship between gender and criminal behavior as well as psychological illness was also found. Likewise, analysis of residential areas showed the difference between urban and rural areas regarding illness as well as criminal acts. The important implication of the present research was in the field of forensic psychology and legal system.
- Bonta, J., Law, M., & Hanson, K. (1998). The Prediction of Criminal and Violent Recidivism among Mentally Disordered Offenders: A Meta-Analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 123, 123-142. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.123.2.123
- Brekke, J. S., Prindle, C., Bae, S. W., & Long, J. D. (2001). Risks for Individuals with Schizophrenia Who Are Living in the Community. Psychiatric Services, 52, 1358-1366. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.52.10.1358
- Choe, J. Y., Teplin, L. A., & Abram, K. M. (2008). Perpetration of Violence, Violent Victimization, and Severe Mental Illness: Balancing Public Health Concerns. Psychiatric Services, 59, 153-164. https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.2008.59.2.153
- Fazel, S., & Danesh, J. (2002). Serious Mental Disorder in 23000 Prisoners: A Systematic Review of 62 Surveys. The Lancet, 359, 545-550. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(02)07740-1
- Fitzgerald, S., Gray, N. S., Taylor, J & Snowden, R. J. (2011). Risk Factors for Recidivism in Offenders with Intellectual Disabilities. Psychology, Crime & Law, 17, 43-58. https://doi.org/10.1080/10683160903392293
- Hodgins, S. (1992). Mental Disorder, Intellectual Deficiency, and Crime: Evidence from a Birth Cohort. Archives of General Psychiatry, 49, 476-483. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1992.01820060056009
- Holland, S., & Persson, P. (2011). Intellectual Disability in the Victorian Prison System: Characteristics of Prisoners with an Intellectual Disability Released from Prison in 2003-2006. Psychology, Crime & Law, 17, 25-41. https://doi.org/10.1080/10683160903392285
- Kamau, C. (2016). Is the NHS Mental Health Service Preparing Clients to Resume Employment? Psychiatric Services, 67, 578-579. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201600008
- Kebbell, M., & Davies, G. (2003). People with Intellectual Disabilities in the Investigation and Prosecution of Crime. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 8, 219-222. https://doi.org/10.1348/135532503322362988
- Klimecki, M. R., Jenkinson, J., & Wilson, L. (2009). A Study of Recidivism among Offenders with Intellectual Disability. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 19, 209-219. https://doi.org/10.1080/07263869400035241
- Köşger, F., Eşsizoğlu, A., Sönmez, İ., Güleç, G., Genek, M., & Akarsu, Ö. (2016). The Relationship between Violence and the Clinical Features, Insight and Cognitive Functions of Patients with Schizophrenia. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry, 27.