Self-reported traumatic brain injury in a sample of impulsive violent offenders: neuropsychiatric correlates and possible "dose effects".

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health problem that may be associated with numerous behavioral problems, including impulsivity, aggression and violence. Rates of self-reported TBI are high within offender populations, but the extent to which TBI is causally implicated in causing illegal behavior is unclear. This study examined the psychological and functional correlates of histories of traumatic brain injury in a sample of impulsive violent offenders.

Mental health service contact following release from prison or hospital discharge in those with psychosis.

Background: An association exists between psychosis and criminal offending, which evidence suggests can be reduced by effective mental health care for this vulnerable population. However mental health services often lose contact with people after diagnosis. The association between the first episode of psychosis and criminal offending highlights the need for effective mental health care for this vulnerable population.

Sertraline hydrochloride for reducing impulsive behaviour in male, repeat-violent offenders (ReINVEST): protocol for a phase IV, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial.

Introduction: Considerable evidence supports an association between poor impulse control (impulsivity) and violent crime. Furthermore, impulsivity and aggression has been associated with reduced levels of serotonergic activity in the brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of anti-depressants that aim to regulate brain serotonin concentrations.

Association Between Early Contact With Mental Health Services After an Offense and Reoffending in Individuals Diagnosed With Psychosis.

Importance: Psychosis is a known risk factor for offending behavior, but little is known about the association between clinical contact with mental health services after an offense and reoffending.

Objective: To examine the association between early contact with mental health services and reoffending after an index offense in individuals with psychosis.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this cohort study, individuals diagnosed with psychosis before their index offense from July 1, 2001, to December 31, 2012, and who received a noncustodial sentence were identified by linking health and offending databases in New South Wales, Australia.

Disengagement from mental health treatment and re-offending in those with psychosis: a multi-state model of linked data.

Background And Aims: Individuals with psychosis are over-represented in the criminal justice system and, as a group, are at elevated risk of re-offending. Recent studies have observed an association between increased contacts with mental health services and reduced re-offending, as well as reduced risk of re-offending in those who are ordered to mental health treatment rather than punitive sanctions. In furthering this work, this study examines the effect of disengagement from mental health treatment on probability of re-offence in offenders with psychosis over time.

First diagnosis of psychosis in the prison: results from a data-linkage study.

Background: Psychosis is more prevalent among people in prison compared with the community. Early detection is important to optimise health and justice outcomes; for some, this may be the first time they have been clinically assessed.

Aims: Determine factors associated with a first diagnosis of psychosis in prison and describe time to diagnosis from entry into prison.

Court diversion for those with psychosis and its impact on re-offending rates: results from a longitudinal data-linkage study.

Background: With significant numbers of individuals in the criminal justice system having mental health problems, court-based diversion programmes and liaison services have been established to address this problem.AimsTo examine the effectiveness of the New South Wales (Australia) court diversion programme in reducing re-offending among those diagnosed with psychosis by comparing the treatment order group with a comparison group who received a punitive sanction.

Method: Those with psychoses were identified from New South Wales Ministry of Health records between 2001 and 2012 and linked to offending records.

Managing aggression and violence: the clinician's role in contemporary mental health care.

Objective: From time to time misconceptions about violence risk assessment raise debate about the role mental health professionals play in managing aggression, with associated concerns about the utility of violence risk assessment. This paper will address some of the misconceptions about risk assessment in those with serious mental illness.

Methods: The authors have expertise as clinicians and researchers in the field and based on their accumulated knowledge and discussion they have reviewed the literature to form their opinions.

Co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder among Australian prisoners.

Introduction And Aims: Estimate the prevalence of co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness in a sample of Australian prisoners, and describe patterns of co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness.

Design And Methods: The sample comprised 1478 individuals (1208 men, 270 women) from two surveys of prisoners' mental health: the 2001 New South Wales Inmate Health Survey, and a consecutive sample of prison receptions. Individuals were drawn from all of the state's 29 prisons.

A survey of the conditionally released forensic patient population in New South Wales.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the demographic and clinical variables of the conditionally released forensic patient population in New South Wales.

Method: Data were gathered from 74 conditionally released forensic patients.

Results: Of this population, 37% had committed homicides and 50% had committed serious violent offences (attempted murder, grievous bodily harm or robbery).

Reducing impulsivity in repeat violent offenders: an open label trial of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Background: The association between serotonergic dysfunction and aggression has prompted the use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as a means of controlling impulsive violent behaviour. The aim of the current study was to examine the feasibility of using an SSRI to treat impulsivity in a group of repeat violent offenders.

Methods: Potential participants were recruited from three magistrates' court complexes in the Sydney metropolitan area and all had histories of violent offending (at least one prior conviction for a violent offence).

The harassment and stalking of plastic surgeons by their patients in Australasia.

Abstract Medical professionals come into direct contact with the public. The relationships are often personal. The aim of the survey is to examine the prevalence of harassment of plastic surgeons by their patients.

Temperament, substance use and psychopathology in a prisoner population: implications for treatment.

Objective: The association between temperament and drug use or temperament and psychopathology has previously been restricted to community clinical or non-clinical samples. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine these associations in a large cohort of Australian offenders using Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).

Methods: A total of 1322 prisoners from New South Wales (NSW) who completed all dimensions of the TCI and were screened for mental illness using the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing were included in the study.

When killing isn't murder: psychiatric and psychological defences to murder when the insanity defence is not applicable.

Objective: This paper describes psychiatric and psychological defences to murder where the defence of insanity is not applicable. The charges of murder and manslaughter are outlined. Self-defence, sane and insane automatism, provocation, diminished responsibility, duress, necessity and novel defences are discussed.

The insanity defence: from wild beasts to M'Naghten.

Objective: This paper provides an overview of the insanity defence. An historical context is offered and each element of the M'Naghten Rules is discussed, highlighting differing interpretations within various jurisdictions. Discussion is offered on the role of expert evidence in addressing the 'ultimate issue' before the courts.

Fitness issues in the context of judicial proceedings.

Objective: This paper provides a conceptual, historical and legislative overview of fitness issues. These include fitness to be interrogated or charged, to plead, to be tried and to be sentenced in the context of Australia and New Zealand.

Conclusions: Legislation regarding fitness issues needs to strike a balance between protecting the rights of mentally impaired defendants to a fair trial process and recognizing that mental illness in itself does not absolutely preclude participation in a trial process or necessarily diminish criminal responsibility.

Mental health status of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australian prisoners.

Objective: To compare the mental health of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal prisoners in New South Wales.

Methods: The sample consisted of a cross-sectional random sample of sentenced prisoners, and a consecutive sample of reception prisoners. The sample was drawn from 29 correctional centres (27 male, two female) across New South Wales.

Mental disorders in Australian prisoners: a comparison with a community sample.

Background: The plight of those with mental health problems and the possible role of prisons in "warehousing" these individuals has received considerable media and political attention. Prisoners are generally excluded from community-based surveys and to date no studies have compared prisoners to the community.

Objective: The objective was to examine whether excess psychiatric morbidity exists in prisoners compared to the general community after adjusting for demographics.

Mental disorder in the New South Wales prisoner population.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of mental illness among prisoners in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Method: Mental illness was examined in two NSW prisoner populations: (i) new receptions to the correctional system; and (ii) sentenced prisoners. Reception prisoners were screened at four male centres and one female centre in NSW.