An evaluation of fitness to stand trial psychiatric reports in Brunei

This study evaluated the application of fitness criteria in pre-trial psychiatric reports prepared for 32 cases sent to psychiatric services in Brunei for assessment of fitness to stand trial over a 3-year period. The primary ICD-10 diagnoses were mental and behavioural disorder due to methyl-amphet...

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Autores principales: Ho, Hilda (Autor) ; Farid, Rifai (Autor)
Tipo de documento: Electrónico Artículo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2021
En: The journal of forensic psychiatry & psychology
Año: 2021, Volumen: 32, Número: 4, Páginas: 496-505
Acceso en línea: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Sumario:This study evaluated the application of fitness criteria in pre-trial psychiatric reports prepared for 32 cases sent to psychiatric services in Brunei for assessment of fitness to stand trial over a 3-year period. The primary ICD-10 diagnoses were mental and behavioural disorder due to methyl-amphetamine abuse in 10 (31.2%) cases, schizophrenia in 10 (31.2%) cases, mental retardation in 1 (3.1%) case and acute psychotic disorder in 1 (3.1%) case. Three (9.4%) cases were reported to be unfit to stand trial. Reports for 27(84.4%) cases addressed the person’s ability to understand the charges, 21(65.6%) addressed the ability to decide how to plead, 24(75.0%) addressed the ability to follow court proceedings and 29(90.6%) addressed mental state at the time of the alleged offence. 1(3.1%) addressed the ability to instruct counsel. Of the reports that addressed each criterion, 26 (81.3%) cases were able to understand the charges, 19 (59.4%) were able to decide how to plead, 22 (68.6%) were able to follow court proceedings and 1 (3.1%) was able to instruct counsel. Three(9.4%) cases showed evidence of insanity at the time of the offence. This paper discusses the implications of these findings on the management of mentally disordered offenders in Brunei.
ISSN:1478-9957
DOI:10.1080/14789949.2020.1864450