Forensic expert assessment of capacity to contract in patients with organic mental disorders and alcohol dependence: the role of pathopsychological syndromes ¹⁵⁸¹

In this paper, we investigated the role of the pathopsychological syndromes in assessment of capacity to contract in persons with different forms of organic mental disorders and alcohol dependence. The aim of the study was to determine the content and structure of pathopsychological syndromes in cognitive and personal spheres in patients with these disorders, which may affect the ability to contract. The sample consisted of 76 people and was formed by two criteria: type of mental disorder, and expert decision. The main research method was content analysis of the case materials, conclusions and data of experimental psychological research. The result of the study was the description of pathopsyhological syndromes in cognitive and personal spheres in patients with different forms of organic mental disorders and alcohol dependence syndrome, which can affect the capacity to contract. We identified the most diagnostically informative pathopsychological indicators that should draw special attention during the differentiation of expert conclusion that a subject “could or could not understand the meaning of his actions or control them”.

Keywords: expertise, capacity to contract, pathopsychological syndromes, diagnostic informativity .

Column: Forensic and Clinical Psychology in Legal Context