Characteristics of those Evaluated for Insanity

Abstract

Forty-five men accused of major crimes who were evaluated for insanity at the time of offense were compared with 30 men matched on crime who had been found NGRI; 30 men matched on crime for whom mental status had not been raised as an issue at trial; and 30 psychiatric controls. The evaluation group resembled other forensic subjects on variables of age, occupation, number of prior arrests, and education. They had significantly higher IQs than the other forensic subjects, and produced MMPIs classified as “Psychiatric” rather than “Psychopathic” using the Goldberg rules. Differences between evaluatees and NGRIs are discussed, as are differences between NGRI and psychiatric control subjects.