Forensic neuropsychiatric aspects of epilepsy.

Epilepsy may be associated with automatisms that are classed as 'insane 'as they are deemed to have originated within the mind. 'Sane automatism' is said to occur from external factors, such as physical trauma, while 'insane automatism' is said to be innate to the individual experiencing them. To claim automatism within the context of a criminal matter requires a detailed evaluation of the behavior demonstrated and a questioning of the volitional and purposeful nature of this behavior.

The history of forensic neuropsychiatry.

Significant advances in various disciplines of neurosciences, such as neurology, neuropsychiatry, neuroimaging, and neurogenetics, have caused an exciting field to emerge in the field of forensic neuropsychiatry called neurolaw. The resurgence of interest in this field has paralleled the renaissance of neuropsychiatry in the last few decades. This historical review of the practice of forensic neuropsychiatry provides an insight into the past with the hope that it will guide the future development of this field.

Late-Onset Sex Offending and the Assessment of Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia (bvFTD).

Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a common neuropsychiatric disorder, which is often missed or misdiagnosed by both neurologists and psychiatrists as a cause of emotional and behavioral problems. Inappropriate emotional responses and maladaptive behavior, including criminal behaviors, may be the first obvious expression of bvFTD caused by altered moral feelings, loss of empathy, disinhibition, and compulsive behavior. New onset sex offenses, including indecent exposure, sexually inappropriate comments, and unwanted sexual advances have been documented in early bvFTD.

The National Football League and chronic traumatic encephalopathy: legal implications.

The growing awareness of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has the potential to change the public perception and on-field rules of the National Football League (NFL). More than 3,000 ex-NFL players or their relatives are engaged in litigation alleging that the NFL failed to acknowledge and address the neuropsychiatric risks associated with brain injuries that result from playing in the NFL. This article explores the intersection between the medical and legal aspects of CTE in the NFL from a forensic psychiatry perspective.