Journal of International Psychiatry

【Abstract】Objection To analyze the characteristics of the offenders with mental disorders and explore the relationship between clinical characteristics and the substantial capacity of appreciation. And then provide an objective basis for the judgment of the capacity of appreciation. Methods A total of 165 forensic psychiatric cases were collected from the Forensic Medical Identification Center of Shantou University from 2003 to 2021. The general demographic and clinical-relatedinformation were collected. Regression analysis was used to investigate the related factors affecting the judgment of the substanial appreciation capacity. Results Compared with the group with normal capacity of appreciation, more illiterate people were identified in the group with no capacity of appreciation(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in other general demographic data among the three groups(P＞0.05). Among the clinical features, the thought disturbancefactor (OR=5.878，P=0.001), emotional state factor (OR=4.419，P=0.019), psychotic symptoms factor(OR=4.291，P=0.009), inactivity factor (OR=3.354，P=0.015), and the SDSS score (OR=2.952，P=0.013)were the most specific factors related with the capacity of appreciation. Conclusion This study suggests that authenticated persons with psychotic symptoms and abnormal emotional state are more likely to be assessed as indiscriminality. The inactivity factor, thought disturbance factor and the SDSS score, may be regarded as the high risk factors for the loss capacity of appreciation.

Offenders with mental disorders；Forensic psychiatry；Criminal responsibility；Capacity of appreciation