Biopsychosocial psychiatry and the criminal justice system: a case report

In criminal proceedings a psychiatrist may be called upon to give evidence as to the state of mind of an accused at the time an alleged crime was committed. Seldom is the psychiatrist able to examine the person at or before the time of the offence and therefore arrives at an opinion by examining the person at some later time. Information gained by this examination is combined with all relevant reports and transcripts concerning the accused, collateral history from friends, relatives or other treating health professionals and the results of any clinical investigations. The psychiatrist ultimately forms an opinion as to the probable state of mind of the accused at the material time.