Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Competency evaluations in a general hospital.

M G Farnsworth1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Ramsey Clinic, St. Paul-Ramsey Foundation, MN 55101.

Psychosomatics
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Clinical effects of a randomized switch of patients from clozaril to generic clozapine.

The Journal of clinical psychiatry·2001
Same author

The impact of judicial review of patients' refusal to accept antipsychotic medications at the Minnesota Security Hospital.

The Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law·1991
Same author

Benzodiazepine abuse and dependence: misconceptions and facts.

The Journal of family practice·1990
Same author

Evaluation of mental competency.

American family physician·1989
Same journal

Clinical Approach to Personality Change Due to Another Medical Condition.

Psychosomatics·2021
Same journal

Clonazepam for Catatonia Incompletely Responsive to lorazepam.

Psychosomatics·2021
Same journal

Diabetic Retinopathy and Depression: A Risk Assessment.

Psychosomatics·2021
Same journal

WITHDRAWN: Psychosis: A Presentation of COVID-19?

Psychosomatics·2021
Same journal

Dermatitis Neglecta, the Cognitive Assessment, and Micronutrients.

Psychosomatics·2020
Same journal

Coronavirus and Its Implications for Psychiatry: A Rapid Review of the Early Literature.

Psychosomatics·2020
See all related articles

Psychiatry consultations for competency evaluations often arise when patients refuse treatment. Delirium and dementia were common diagnoses in incompetent patients, highlighting the need for forensic awareness.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Psychiatry
  • Neuropsychiatry
  • Medical Ethics

Background:

  • Competency evaluations are crucial in clinical psychiatry, particularly when patients refuse medical recommendations.
  • Understanding the prevalence and diagnostic patterns of patients requiring competency assessments is essential for healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the characteristics and outcomes of 90 requests for competency evaluations received by a psychiatry consultation service.
  • To identify common diagnoses and the follow-through rate of recommendations in patients undergoing competency assessments.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 90 competency evaluation requests received between 1983 and 1986.
  • Analysis of patient diagnoses, reasons for consultation, and the extent to which recommendations were followed.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Most evaluations were requested due to patient refusal of treatment or disposition recommendations.
  • Delirium and dementia were the most frequent diagnoses among patients deemed incompetent.
  • Recommendations for further medical evaluation were followed more often than those for guardianship, living-skill assessments, or neuropsychometric testing.

Conclusions:

  • Consulting psychiatrists must be aware of the forensic implications surrounding patient competency.
  • There is a significant gap between recommended interventions (e.g., guardianship) and their actual implementation for incompetent patients.