TITLE:
Manifestation of Psychological Disorders in Medico-Legal Cases
AUTHORS:
Saima Majeed
KEYWORDS:
Medico-Legal Cases, Forensic Assessment, Psychiatric Disorder, Criminal Behaviour
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.11 No.7,
July
16,
2020
ABSTRACT: The relationship between mental illnesses and
criminal behavior is a topic of debate for last many years. It is a popular
thinking that people with mental illnesses are more vulnerable towards aggression,
violence, and other criminal acts. The aim of the present study was to examine
the manifestation of psychological disorders in cases referred to Punjab
Institute of Mental Health (PIMH), Lahore Pakistan for forensic psychological
assessment. The archival data from the year 2017 to 2019 of cases was obtained
from patient clerk of PIMH. Results indicated that total cases that reported were
174. More men (f = 145, 83.3%) were
reported for forensic assessment as compared to women (f = 29, 16.7%). As far as residential area was concerned
more cases came from urban areas (f = 94, 54%) as compared to rural areas (f = 80, 46%). The most reported criminal act was a threat
to harm and murder. The aggression and murder cases were more reported from
rural background. Intellectual disability (f = 56, 32.2%) and schizophrenia (f = 51, 29.3%) was the highest reported diagnosis.
Intellectual disability was reported more from urban background whereas
schizophrenia reported more from rural background. Chi-square results showed
significant relationship between criminal acts and psychiatric illnesses,
significant relationship between gender and criminal behavior as well as
psychological illness was also found.
Likewise, analysis of residential areas showed the difference between urban and
rural areas regarding illness as well as criminal acts. The important
implication of the present research was in the field of forensic psychology and
legal system.