title: Cognition and competency restoration: using the RBANS to predict length of stay for patients deemed incompetent to stand trial.
abstract: Intact cognition is a foundational component of one's ability to be competent to stand trial. Given the cost of assessing and treating incompetence, it is recommended that clinicians develop efficient methods to identify individuals who are most likely to require intensive competence-related treatment interventions. This study sought to ascertain whether a brief cognitive screening instrument, the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), could predict the length of stay required to restore trial competency among 288 forensic psychiatric inpatients undergoing competency restoration treatment. Results indicated that incompetent defendants who were older or demonstrated poorer overall RBANS performance required longer hospitalizations to be deemed restored to trial competence. Interestingly, incompetent defendants scoring in the 51-60 range on the RBANS Total Scale Index were almost three times more likely to require hospitalization beyond the average length of stay. Findings support the use of the RBANS to identify individuals early in the treatment process who may require and benefit from intensive restoration treatment.
authors: a Department of State Hospitals-Patton State Hospital , Patton , CA 92369 , USA.
authors: Parnian
authors: P
authors: Toofanian Ross
authors: Claudia B
authors: CB
authors: Padula
authors: Stephen R
authors: SR
authors: Nitch
authors: Dominique I
authors: DI
authors: Kinney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007298:Insanity Defense; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Competence to stand trial; Competency restoration.; Length of stay; Psychiatric inpatients; RBANS