Factors influencing adjudicative competence and length of time to restoration
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
5-1-2021
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences
Volume
66
Issue
3
DOI
10.1111/1556-4029.14669
Keywords
adjudicative competence; length of time to adjudication; length of time to restoration; medication adherence; non-restored to competence; personality disorders; psychiatric diagnoses; psychiatric treatment; restorability; restored to competence; substance use disorders
Abstract
Few studies on adjudicative competence explore the relationship between diagnosis, treatment, and restorability. Most focus on demographics and major psychiatric diagnosis with very few exploring the diagnoses common to the forensic population (i.e., personality disorders and substance abuse). Our study of 365 defendants who were incompetent to stand trial at a state psychiatric facility indicates that non-restored defendants have a greater likelihood of cognitive disorders, misdemeanor charges, and histories of prior hospitalization, and less likelihood of personality disorders. In addition, the odds of having a substance use disorder and being medication non-adherent was greater among restored defendants. The mean length of time to restoration (LOR) of 56 days was significantly different from the mean length of time to adjudication (LOA) for those not restored (88 days). This study supports prior literature on restorability while distinguishing those treated for psychosis from those treated for substance use and personality disorder. In its novel focus on medication adherence, the study expands the remediable factors available to clinical and forensic professionals and supports interventions that improve treatment and shorten the time to restoration.
APA Citation
Secarea, C., Cleary, S., & Candilis, P. (2021). Factors influencing adjudicative competence and length of time to restoration. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 66 (3). http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14669