TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of mental disorders in defendants at criminal court
AU - Brown, Penelope
AU - Bakolis, Ioannis
AU - Appiah-Kusi, Elizabeth
AU - Hallett, Nicholas
AU - Hotopf, Matthew
AU - Blackwood, Nigel
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust (grant number 099009/Z/12/Z to P.B.) and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation or writing of the report.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
PY - 2022/5/12
Y1 - 2022/5/12
N2 - Background Psychiatric morbidity in prisons and police custody is well established, but little is known about individuals attending criminal court. There is international concern that vulnerable defendants are not identified, undermining their right to a fair trial. Aims To explore the prevalence of a wide range of mental disorders in criminal defendants and estimate the proportion likely to be unfit to plead. Method We employed two-stage screening methodology to estimate the prevalence of mental illness, neurodevelopmental disorders and unfitness to plead, in 3322 criminal defendants in South London. Sampling was stratified according to whether defendants attended court from the community or custody. Face-to-face interviews, using diagnostic instruments and assessments of fitness to plead, were administered (n = 503). Post-stratification probability weighting provided estimates of the overall prevalence of mental disorders and unfitness to plead. Results Mental disorder was more common in those attending court from custody, with 48.5% having at least one psychiatric diagnosis compared with 20.3% from the community. Suicidality was frequently reported (weighted prevalence 71.2%; 95% CI 64.2-77.3). Only 16.7% of participants from custody and 4.6% from the community were referred to the liaison and diversion team; 2.1% (1.1-4.0) of defendants were estimated to be unfit to plead, with a further 3.2% (1.9-5.3) deemed 'borderline unfit'. Conclusions The prevalence of mental illness and neurodevelopmental disorders in defendants is high. Many are at risk of being unfit to plead and require additional support at court, yet are not identified by existing services. Our evidence challenges policy makers and healthcare providers to ensure that vulnerable defendants are adequately supported at court.
AB - Background Psychiatric morbidity in prisons and police custody is well established, but little is known about individuals attending criminal court. There is international concern that vulnerable defendants are not identified, undermining their right to a fair trial. Aims To explore the prevalence of a wide range of mental disorders in criminal defendants and estimate the proportion likely to be unfit to plead. Method We employed two-stage screening methodology to estimate the prevalence of mental illness, neurodevelopmental disorders and unfitness to plead, in 3322 criminal defendants in South London. Sampling was stratified according to whether defendants attended court from the community or custody. Face-to-face interviews, using diagnostic instruments and assessments of fitness to plead, were administered (n = 503). Post-stratification probability weighting provided estimates of the overall prevalence of mental disorders and unfitness to plead. Results Mental disorder was more common in those attending court from custody, with 48.5% having at least one psychiatric diagnosis compared with 20.3% from the community. Suicidality was frequently reported (weighted prevalence 71.2%; 95% CI 64.2-77.3). Only 16.7% of participants from custody and 4.6% from the community were referred to the liaison and diversion team; 2.1% (1.1-4.0) of defendants were estimated to be unfit to plead, with a further 3.2% (1.9-5.3) deemed 'borderline unfit'. Conclusions The prevalence of mental illness and neurodevelopmental disorders in defendants is high. Many are at risk of being unfit to plead and require additional support at court, yet are not identified by existing services. Our evidence challenges policy makers and healthcare providers to ensure that vulnerable defendants are adequately supported at court.
KW - Developmental disorders
KW - forensic mental health services
KW - human rights
KW - psychiatry and law
KW - psychotic disorders
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85131314029&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1192/bjo.2022.63
DO - 10.1192/bjo.2022.63
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85131314029
SN - 2056-4724
VL - 8
JO - British Journal of Psychiatry Open
JF - British Journal of Psychiatry Open
IS - 3
M1 - e92
ER -