title: To detain or to release? Correlates of dispositions for individuals declared not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The extent to which risk assessment advances have influenced release decision-making by review boards (RBs) of individuals found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (NCRMD) remains unclear. Our objective is to identify the psychosocial, criminological, and risk measure correlates of RB decision-making.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through structured interviews and file reviews conducted between October 2004 and August 2006 in the sole forensic psychiatric hospital in Quebec and in 2 civil psychiatric hospitals in a large metropolitan area designated to care for people found NCRMD. The final sample consisted of 96 men.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dynamic, clinical risk factors are associated with decisions to detain or release people found NCRMD, rather than traditional historical risk factors such as criminal history.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dynamic variables seem appropriate for the RBs to consider given the intention of the NCRMD legislation. Further, dynamic variables provide direction for titration of treatment and supervision. Results are discussed regarding enhancing evidence-informed RB dispositions.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec; Associate Director, Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Center, Montreal, Quebec. anne.crocker@mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Anne G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Crocker
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Braithwaite
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.forename: Tonia L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Seto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D032882:Comprehension; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007298:Insanity Defense; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D011367:Professional Staff Committees / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D011792:Quebec; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*