[Expert evaluation by forensic psychiatrists of aged delinquents].

In the period from 1970 till 1987 forensic psychiatric certification of 1333 delinquents war made in Regional Psychiatric Hospital in Cibórz. Forty experts (3%) regarded subjects aged 60 years or more. The most common crimes were those against life and health--62.5%; predominantly homicides, assaults and assaults on public functioning, as well as arson--10%. Among male delinquents 68% were under the influence of alcohol at the time of crime of arson and assaults. Other common crime were establish in 15%. Only 1 patient was accused of sexual child abuse (2.5%). Women made 20% of offenders; one half of them committed the crime against life and health, mainly menace. Mental disturbances were found in 90% of patients. Dementia was diagnosed in 20%, organic personality disorder in 30%, and pseudoneurotic syndrome in 15%. Delusional syndrome was diagnosed in 15% while 5% of patients had long history of psychiatric disorders. 35% of expertise were made during single psychiatric interview. It is our opinion that a single examination of aged delinquent does not allow the correct evaluation of the influence of complex relations between possible mental disturbances, somatic illness, drugs (often various pathology and polytherapy) and alcohol, on delinquent's soundness of mind. Taking into consideration the widespread of above mentioned disturbances in the aged population we think that every person in the age above 60 suspected of crime should undergo psychiatric evaluation and hospital observation.