The RCRAS and legal insanity: a cross-validation study.
Examined the RCRAS as an empirically based approach to insanity evaluations. Previous research has been encouraging with regard to the RCRAS' interrater reliability and construct validity. The present study, with a larger data base (N = 111), sought to cross-validate these findings. Results from five forensic centers established satisfactory reliability for the RCRAS (mean kappa r = .80 for decision variables for criminal responsibility) and differentiating patterns for four of the five scales between sane and insane patient-defendants. Results further suggested that the RCRAS was generalizable across age, sex, criminal behavior, and location of the forensic evaluation. These findings were discussed with respect to the potential clinical utility of the RCRAS.
D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D007298:Insanity Defense; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States