[Instruments to evaluate fitness to stand trial:a review of recent literature].
OBJECTIVE
To present current methods used to assess fitness to stand trial (FST), draw a parallel between these methods and studies of factors associated with decisions regarding FST, and describe the limits inherent to the field of FST.


METHODS
Survey of the relevant literature from Psychinfo and Medline databases from 1967 to 1996 inclusively.


RESULTS
Ten instruments were identified for the systematic collection of information from persons assessed for FST. The description and analysis of their psychometric qualities, however, indicate that these instruments present some problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Although some research has shown that diagnosis is the factor most associated with decisions regarding FST, no instrument includes a systematic assessment of psychopathology. If we take into account the possible consequences of these decisions for the accused as well as for society, these assessments and the recommendations that follow prove to be extremely important.
Crocker
A G
AG
Université de Montréal, Québec. crockera@ere.umontreal.ca
Ohayon
M
M
Caulet
M
M
D002170:Canada; D003416:Criminal Law; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000145:classification* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Instruments d'évaluation de l'aptitude à subir son procès: une recension de la documentation scientifique.