Citation

Lewis CF, Fields C, Rainey E. J. Am. Acad. Psychiatry Law 2006; 34(3): 324-332.

Affiliation

University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA. lewis@psychiatry.uchc.edu

Comment In:

J Am Acad Psychiatry Law 2006;34(3):333-7

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Publisher American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17032956

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine a sample (n = 99) of elderly forensic evaluees to describe the psychiatric, medical, legal, and demographic characteristics of the sample and to examine which of these factors is associated with violent charges. Clinical data were gathered through retrospective chart review of patients aged 60 and over who were referred for criminal responsibility/competency-to-stand-trial evaluations from 1991 to 1998 at William S. Hall Psychiatric Institute in Columbia, South Carolina. Most (67.7%) of the sample was alcohol dependent, nearly one half (44.4%) had dementia, and close to one third (32.3%) had antisocial personality disorder. The majority of patients (60.6%) were facing violent charges and most (80.8%) were recidivists. In multivariate analysis, race, outpatient treatment status, crime location, and paranoia were all associated with violent charges. The implications and limitations of these data as applied to forensic treatment settings are discussed.

Language: en