Nicholson R A, McNulty J L
Department of Psychology, University of Tulsa, OK 74104.
Behav Sci Law. 1992 Summer;10(3):371-83. doi: 10.1002/bsl.2370100307.
This study assessed the outcome of hospitalization for incompetent criminal defendants admitted to the forensic unit of a state hospital for treatment during a 4-year period. Findings suggested that the overwhelming majority of the defendants were restored to competency. The defendants also showed significant improvement in overall severity of psychopathology during hospitalization. Further, the duration of hospitalization for these defendants was relatively short. Although these results are promising with regard to treatment of incompetent defendants, predicting the outcome of hospitalization for these defendants was problematic. Prediction of competency restoration was precluded because persistent incompetence was so infrequent. Moreover, multiple regression analyses suggested limited predictive ability with regard to defendants' discharge level of functioning or length of hospitalization. These findings are consistent with the view that examiners should exercise caution in making recommendations to the courts concerning treatability of incompetent defendants.
本研究评估了在四年期间被收治到一家州立医院法医科接受治疗的无行为能力刑事被告的住院治疗结果。研究结果表明，绝大多数被告恢复了行为能力。被告在住院期间精神病理学的总体严重程度也有显著改善。此外，这些被告的住院时间相对较短。虽然这些结果对于无行为能力被告的治疗很有前景，但预测这些被告的住院治疗结果存在问题。由于持续性无行为能力的情况非常罕见，因此无法预测行为能力的恢复。此外，多元回归分析表明，在预测被告出院时的功能水平或住院时间方面，预测能力有限。这些发现与以下观点一致，即检查人员在就无行为能力被告的可治疗性向法院提出建议时应谨慎行事。
