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Biomedical subjects

R Kunjukrishnan

Publications and source records attributed to R Kunjukrishnan.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Major affective disorders and forensic psychiatry.

Major mental illnesses, such as major affective disorders and schizophrenias, form a relatively small diagnostic group among mentally disordered offenders. The major affective disorders are less common when compared with schizophrenics among such offenders. Yet, some of the most violent crimes, such as murder, attempted murder, and serious assaults, especially intrafamilial violence, are committed by major affective disorder patients. The offenses by this group of patients are committed while suffering from active symptoms of the illness. As such, a substantial majority is not considered fully criminally responsible for the offense. Many such offenders are found not guilty by reason of insanity and are sent to psychiatric hospitals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The profile of a major affective disorder offender.

The authors review the studies on the relationship between crime and mental disorder conducted in various settings and point out that the incidence of major mental illnesses in general and of major affective disorders in particular, among the criminal population is relatively small. They present the profile of a major affective disorder offender presenting at a forensic psychiatric department of a university-based psychiatric hospital in a major Canadian city. This profile is based on the demographic, psychiatric, psychological and legal data on a sample of 46 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of major affective disorder. Even though the majority of these offenders are charged with relatively minor crimes and property offenses, they are often referred by the courts for in-patient assessment as many show active symptoms at the time of initial appearance in court. The ways the criminal justice system deals with these offenders are discussed. The benefits and limitations of describing a profile of any group of offenders are also considered.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Interface between mental subnormality and law--a review.

In this two-part paper, the authors present a review of various facets of the interface between mental subnormality and law. Part I deals with the historical evolution of the concept and definition of mental subnormality, both in the medical and in the legal field, and also the civil issues concerning the mentally subnormal, such as education, employment and community living, marriage, parenthood and involuntary sterilization, the right to treatment and the right to refuse treatment, guardianship and mental incompetency. Part II deals with the criminal issues involving the mentally subnormal, such as the relationship between mental subnormality and crime, competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility, as these concepts relate to the mentally subnormal, and the mentally subnormal in correctional institutions. The emphasis is on the North American scene, that is on the developments in the services for the mentally subnormal in the U.S.A. and Canada. The important judicial and legislative decisions that had great impact on the rights of the mentally subnormal in civil and criminal areas, are covered in this review. The dynamic nature of societal standards and attitudes is also reflected in the ways it deals with the underprivileged members, such as the mentally subnormal. The judicial and legislative decisions thus reflect these changes in societal attitude. As such we can expect ongoing revisions in the services for the mentally subnormal and enactment of new provisions to protect their interests in institutions and in the community.

Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilitie↗
PubMed1988

Schizophrenia and major affective disorder: forensic psychiatric issues.

A group of schizophrenic (S) and major affective disorder (MAD) patients assessed in a Forensic Psychiatric Department was studied in depth to test the hypothesis that these patients commit crimes during periods of serious psychiatric disturbance, even if other sociodemographic factors might be contributing to their criminal behavior. The demographic, psychiatric, psychological and legal data were analyzed. The schizophrenic group was overrepresented in this sample compared with the hospitalization pattern for S and MAD patients as a whole. Both groups showed demographic characteristics such as mean age, marital and family status and education and employment, consistent with the diagnoses. S offenders tended to be either chronically ill or paranoid type and MAD offenders the early onset, bipolar type. Both groups showed evidence of serious psychiatric disturbance at the time of assessment and at the time of the alleged offense. S offenders were considered more dangerous based on clinical criteria and showed an increased tendency to assault. About two-thirds of the total group were considered unfit to stand trial at the time of assessment and about three-quarters were considered not fully responsible for the alleged offense from psychiatric viewpoint. These findings confirm the hypothesis that criminal behavior in these seriously ill patients is at least partly due to the psychiatric disturbance itself. The need for psychiatric assessment and treatment of these mentally ill offenders is thus clearly shown.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The clinical and forensic psychiatric issues of retifism.

The literature on the etiological theories, clinical manifestations and treatment of retifism (foot fetishism) and fetishisms in general are briefly reviewed. The case of a 27 year old married male foot-fetishist is presented with emphasis on the psychosexual development leading to the specific sexual deviation. The specific behavioural treatment consisted of covert aversive conditioning using self-reports of sexual urges and psychophysiological monitoring as objective measures of therapeutic change. The theoretical basis for the therapeutic response is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Medicolegal aspects of mental retardation.

This article reviews practical medicolegal issues that have arisen within the field of mental retardation. Important medicolegal issues involved in education, employment, community living, marriage, parenthood, guardianship, sterilization, and the right to treatment and refusal of treatment are discussed. Criminal issues affecting the mentally retarded are also reviewed.

Canada↗
PubMed1979

10 year survey of pretrial examinations in Saskatchewan.

The results of a survey of pretrial examination cases admitted to the provincial psychiatric hospital in Saskatchewan from 1966 to 1975 are reported. The demographic and psychiatric data and data from the psychiatric reports to the Court are analyzed. Some deficiencies noted in the reports to the Court are discussed and some remedial measures are suggested.

Adolescent↗