The use of computed tomography scans and the Bender Gestalt Test in the assessment of competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility in the field of mental health and law.
computed tomography and the Bender Gestalt Test are some of the tests used routinely for the assessment of alleged offenders referred under Sections 77 and 78 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977. An exploratory retrospective study was conducted at the Free State Psychiatric Complex. The aim of this study was to identify the extent to which the Bender Gestalt Test results and the computed tomography scans are associated with outcomes in the assessment of competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility in individuals referred to the Free State Psychiatric Complex (FSPC) observation unit. This was a cross-sectional study and the entire population of patients admitted in 2013 was included in the study. The clinical and demographic data were obtained from patient files. The majority of participants were black, males, single and unemployed. The most common diagnosis was schizophrenia. The current study showed no statistically significant association between the Bender Gestalt Test Hain's scores and the outcome of criminal responsibility and competency to stand trial. Similarly, the study also showed no statistically significant association between the presence of a brain lesion and the outcome of criminal responsibility and competency to stand trial. It was also concluded that as CT scans are expensive, patients should be referred for that service only when there is a clear clinical indication to do so.
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa. Electronic address: mosothol@fshealth.gov.za.
Nathaniel Lehlohonolo
NL
Mosotho
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa.
Ino
I
Timile
Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Gina
G
Joubert
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001538:Bender-Gestalt Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007298:Insanity Defense; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review; D055815:Young Adult
Bender Gestalt Test; Competency to stand trial; Computed tomography; Criminal responsibility; Mental defect; Mental illness